There are a number of wonderful organisations that provide free assistance to people facing depression and suicide issues.  If you are concerned about your own wellbeing, or even that of a friend, seek advice from one of these groups:

What are the main difficulties depressed young people are faced with?

Many young people experiencing depression express feeling very alone, like they are the only ones going through what they are experiencing, and can often become quite isolated as a result of their illness.

Is adolescent depression increasing?

Yes. Research shows that psychological distress has been increasing.

• While suicide rates have decreased 57% since 1997, rates of young people experiencing high to very high psychological distress have increased by 60% since 1997 (ABS 2008; Eckersley)
• Rates of reported intentional self harm have also increased 43% from 1996 to 2006
• 26.5% of young people aged 18-24 experience an anxiety, affective or substance use disorder
• 1 in 5 are likely to experience a diagnosable depressive episode
• Of the one in four with a mental health problem, only 29% contact a professional service of any type.

What can and do you do to prevent depression?

Prevention is obviously better than cure! As well as preventing pain and suffering, it’s a lot more cost-effective.

There are a number of risk factors that we can reduce and protective factors that we can enhance to protect against depression.

Some of the protective factors for individuals include developing:

• Problem-solving skills
• Social skills
• High self-esteem
• A sense of control
• Positive expectations for the future
• An optimistic outlook.

How does depression affect them socially and around friends?

Some of the symptoms of depression include a lack of energy or losing interest in activities previously enjoyed, while some people can become quite isolated and might withdraw from friends. If friends don’t understand this, they sometimes feel rejected by the person who is unwell, and stop making an effort with them.

This is a vicious cycle, as social support is a protective factor, and once it disappears things can get worse.

What are the problems families with depressed children face?

It can be a really stressful time for families. It isn’t always clear where to get information about what to do or where you can help, so people can feel quite helpless and desperate, as well as obviously being upset that a loved one is unwell. It can put a lot of pressure on other family relationships as well.

Do they always need professional help if they are depressed?

There are varying severities of depression. If someone is feeling down, it is a good idea to speak with a mental health professional about it. This might be your school counsellor or your local GP to start with. Different therapies are appropriate for difference severities of depression and different people.

For more information please visit ReachOut.com