Overview
Depression affects roughly one in 10 people in the population. It has a number of possible causes, including our genes, hormones and chemicals in our bodies, or our backgrounds. Periods of depression may also be triggered by significant life events, such as work or financial stress, exams, relationship changes, family conflict, or concerns around identity or sexual orientation.
Most people with depression make good recoveries and live full lives with the right care and support.
Signs and symptoms
These symptoms, if we do not get support for them, can have negative effects in our lives, such as employment issues, strain on relationships, drug and alcohol use, and thoughts of suicide.
In general, a person may be diagnosed with depression if they experience five or more symptoms for more than two weeks.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of overwhelming sadness and hopelessness
- A loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities or hobbies that are usually enjoyed
- Difficulties with sleep, such as being unable to fall asleep, waking early, feeling overly-tired or having no energy to get out of bed
- Changes in appetite, such as reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased food cravings and weight gain
- Physical pains, such as headaches or muscle aches
- Recurrent thoughts of death, suicide or self-harm.
If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide and are in immediate distress, please contact the emergency services by calling 999 in Ireland or 112 anywhere in Europe.
Treatment
If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of depression, start by talking to your GP. They can give you guidance and may recommend that you are referred for assessment at a community mental health service or as an inpatient in hospital.
Treatment for depression can involve a number of approaches. Psychological supports can include therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). Self-help and self-management practices, such as mindfulness, can also be very helpful. In addition, some people may take a course of medication to manage their symptoms.
You can find out more about our Depression Recovery Programme here.
Useful resources
If you have questions about mental health or our services, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
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Organisations and support groups
You can find out more about some organisations and support groups for people living with depression and their families below.
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Books
If you are interested in reading more about depression, you may find the books below helpful. You can also check our Information Centre for more information and a wider selection of books.
- Depression: The Common Sense Approach | Tony Bates
- Mind Over Mood| Dennis Greenberger and Christine A Padeskey
- Overcoming Depression| Paul Gilbert
- Depression: Your Questions Answered | Melvyn Lurie
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Eating Disorders