[Music]

"I've had issues with depression
before uni, but it's become a lot
worse during my degree. I get so
stressed with all of my assessment
that I end up feeling depressed. I've
got no motivation to do my work and I
end up staying in bed all day, not
turning up to lectures and handing in
assignments late. I've noticed that when
my mood is better, I get better grades.
When I'm depressed, I do really badly.
I've failed some units because of my
depression. I wish I had known earlier
that there were services at uni to help
me manage my studies while dealing with
mental health issues. Now I'm worried about
whether my grades will affect my ability
to get a job after uni."

We all feel sad or down from time to
time, but when someone feels consistently
down for a period of time and this gets in
the way of their friendships, studies, work
and life in general, they may be experiencing
depression. This is a serious illness that
really shouldn't be left untreated.
Depression is one of the most common mental
illnesses across age groups. It's particularly
common in young people and has a bigger
impact on a young person's life than many
other health issues. What's more, some
evidence shows that university students
are even more prone to depression than
other young people.

It's important to know what to look out for
when it comes to the signs and symptoms of
depression. These can be different for
different people and include things like
losing interest in things that you once
thought were fun; feeling sad, moody,
irritable, empty, or numb; having trouble
sleeping; lacking energy and motivation;
feeling worried or tense;
having difficulty concentrating and making
decisions; feeling worthless or guilty;
being self-blaming or critical; or having
thoughts of suicide. The difference between
depression and the normal dips in mood that
we all feel is that it lasts; people feel it
most days; and when this goes on for two
weeks or more, and interferes with
your ability to function, this may be an
indication of depression.

If this sounds like you or someone you know,
there are lots of effective treatments for
depression that work. This is really good
news because if something doesn't work for
you, there are different options that you can
try. It's about getting help to find the right
one for you. You can try medications such
as antidepressants, talking therapies with
a counsellor or psychologist, self-help
treatments such as reading books or trying
an online therapy, and lifestyle treatments
such as exercise.

Here's something you can try right
now to help lift your mood if you've
been feeling down. Think about your life,
do you have anything in your day that
is fun or joyful? It sounds simple but
it's really important to schedule one or
more fun or enjoyable activities
for yourself every day. It's also important
to give yourself a sense of achievement
each day. It doesn't have to be big
things, it can be as small as taking a
walk in your favourite place, listening
to music, seeing a friend, doing a hobby.
Achievement activities might be making
an appointment, tidying a drawer,
or catching up on some reading for uni.
Have a look at the list of activities in the
exercise attached o this module. Your
challenge for next week is to make time for
at least one of these activities every day.
Book it in, make it a priority, start small.
Give yourself the opportunity to feel joy
or a sense that you've achieved something,
as depression can rob us of the ability to
feel these things. You can write your plan
out and stick it up somewhere you can see
it, or note it down in your phone or calendar
and set a reminder. Be consistent and note
whether doing this task has an impact on
your mood. Finally, you can make an
appointment with your university
counselling or health centre to get tips
on how to deal with depression.

Thanks for listening.

[Music]