Understanding depression

Information for adults

Depression is more than just a low mood – it’s Physical

a serious illness. People with depression find o Tired all the time
it hard to function every day. Depression has o Sick and run down
o Headaches and muscle pains
serious effects on physical and mental health.
o Churning gut
o Sleep problems
How do you know if a person is
o Loss or change of appetite
depressed and not just sad?
o Significant weight loss or gain
A person may be depressed, if for more than two weeks
they have: In most cases, depression will go on for weeks or months
if left untreated. If it isn’t properly treated, depression is
• felt sad, down or miserable most of the time
highly likely to recur.
OR
• lost interest or pleasure in most of their usual activities. What makes a person more at risk
AND experienced a number of these symptoms: of depression?

Behaviour Some events or situations have been linked

o Stopping going out with depression:
o Not getting things done at work • family conflict

o Withdrawing from close family and friends

• isolation or loneliness
• unemployment
o Relying on alcohol and sedatives • having a serious medical illness
o No longer doing things they enjoyed • drug and alcohol use
o Unable to concentrate • changes in the brain
• having a family member with depression.
Thoughts
It’s important to remember that each person is different
o “I’m a failure.” and it is often a combination of factors that puts a person
o “It’s my fault.” at risk of depression.
o “Nothing good ever happens to me.”
o “I’m worthless.” How common is depression?
o “Life’s not worth living.” Very common. Around one million Australian adults and
160,000 young people live with depression each year.
Feelings On average, one in five females and one in eight males will
o Overwhelmed
experience depression in their lifetime.1
o Guilty
o Irritable
What are the treatments for
o Frustrated depression?
o No confidence Depression is often not recognised or treated.

o Unhappy Different types of depression require different types of

o Indecisive treatments. This may include physical exercise for preventing
o Disappointed
and treating mild depression, through to psychological and drug
treatments for more severe levels of depression.
o Miserable
o Sad
1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (2008). 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing:
Summary of Results (4326.0). Canberra: ABS.

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For more information www.beyondblue.org.au or beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636
Understanding depression

Information for adults

Psychological treatments doctor or psychologist. Visit www.beyondblue.org.au and click

Psychological treatments deal with problems that particularly on Get Help. With the right treatment, most people recover from
affect people with depression, such as changing negative depression. Delaying treatments may delay recovery.
patterns of thinking or sorting out relationship difficulties.
You can help someone by:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) helps to correct negative
• assisting them to get information from a website or library
thought patterns. CBT is a structured program which
recognises that the way people think affects the way they feel. • suggesting they go to a doctor or health professional
• assisting them to make an appointment
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a structured program with a
specific focus on improving relationships. • accompanying them to their appointment with a doctor
or health professional
Psychological treatments can help to:
• following them up after the appointment
• change negative thoughts and feelings
• encouraging or getting them involved in social activities
• encourage the person to get involved in activities
• discouraging them from treating themselves with alcohol
• speed the person’s recovery or other drugs.
• prevent depression from recurring
• identify ways to manage the illness and stay well. It would be unhelpful to:
• put pressure on them by telling them to ‘snap out of it’ or
Medications ‘get their act together’
People who are depressed often feel physically unwell. • stay away or avoid them
Antidepressant drug treatments can relieve the physical • tell them they just need to stay busy or get out more
symptoms of depression as well as the mood symptoms. • pressure them to party more or wipe out how they’re feeling
Drug treatments for depression are not addictive. with drugs and alcohol.
If you or someone you know needs help, talk to your family doctor
Many people worry about the potential side-effects of
or another health professional about getting appropriate treatment.
antidepressant medication. It’s important to know that when
depression isn’t treated effectively, physical health often
gets worse.
Recommended depression websites
www.beyondblue.org.au
The most important thing is to find Information on depression, anxiety and related disorders,
available treatments and where to get help
a treatment that works.
www.youthbeyondblue.com
There is a range of treatments that are proven to work. Each
beyondblue’s website for young people
person needs to find the treatment that’s right for them. Often
a combination of treatment approaches is most useful. www.crufad.org
Information and internet-based education and treatment
programs for people with depression or anxiety
What can be done to help?
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
People with depression can often find it difficult to take the
Information about depression and bipolar disorder
first step in seeking help. They may need to get help with the
support of their family, friends and/or health professional e.g. a www.mmha.org.au
Mental health information for people from culturally diverse
© beyondblue: the national depression initiative, 2009.
backgrounds
PO Box 6100, Hawthorn West VIC 3122 www.headspace.org.au
T: (03) 9810 6100 Information, support and services for young people aged 12 to 25
beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636
F: (03) 9810 6111
E: [email protected]
W: www.beyondblue.org.au
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For more information www.beyondblue.org.au or beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636