LEVEL 4

Having depression doesn't mean that a person is weak, or a failure, or isn't really trying ... it means they need TREATMENT!

Most people with depression can be helped with COUNSELLING, provided by a professional psychologist, and some are helped with a combination of counselling and medicine.

COUNSELLING means talking about feelings with a trained psychologist who can help you change the relationships, thoughts, or behaviours that are causing your depression.

• You feel depressed because you think your life is bad. What if you're wrong?
• What if you're missing all the good things about you?
• What if your future holds a lot more promise than you think?
• When you're depressed you can't see anything good.
• You need to talk to someone who can help you get out of that rut!
• Don't wait, ASK your parents, or your school counsellor for help today.

Major depression is a serious problem and should be diagnosed by a doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist. One effective treatment for major depression in young people is a talking therapy that teaches new skills for thinking and acting more effectively.

Another effective treatment is interpersonal therapy, a talking therapy that teaches new skills for dealing with friends, teachers and family.

MEDICINE is sometimes used to treat depression that is severe or disabling. When depression is so bad that you can't focus on anything else, when it interferes with your life in an overwhelming way, medication might be necessary, in addition to counselling. Most of the time counselling alone is sufficient.

With treatment, most depressed people start to feel better in just a few weeks.

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