8 facts about depression

Mental health challenges can be really tough, and it’s important to get support when you’re faced with them. Here are eight facts that will help you to better understand depression and how to get help. 

This can help if:

• you want to know more about depression

• you’re living with depression

• you feel like no one understands what you’re going through, and it’s hard to talk to the people you care about.

1. Depression is more common than you might think

If you’re experiencing depression, you’re not alone.

• Depression affects around 300 million people worldwide.

• About one in five Australians will experience depression in their lifetime.

• Depression is the most commonly experienced mental health challenge for young people aged between 12 and 25 years.

2. Depression has many causes and can affect anyone

Psychologists have found that many different factors can cause depression. They include:

• difficult life events like breakups, loss, unemployment, life transitions, or conflict with family and friends

• longstanding life challenges like trauma, loneliness or addiction

• physical causes like genetics, medications, changes in brain chemistry, nutrition, hormones, immune system and gut health.

Depression can affect people of all races, genders and cultures. It can impact anyone, even people who appear ‘strong’ or who have no obvious reason to be depressed.

3. Depression often exists alongside anxiety

Depression and anxiety are two distinct conditions, but it’s common to experience both. Almost half of people with depression also experience anxiety. 

Anxiety symptoms can have a huge impact on your daily life. These impacts can often lead to experiencing symptoms of depression, like fatigue or negative self-talk. It can also work the other way around, with depression symptoms causing anxiety.

4. There are different types of depression

For psychologists, ‘depression’ is a blanket term that covers various types of depression.

• Major depressive disorder (MDD) is when depressive symptoms last for two weeks or more. This is the most common type of depression people face.

• Chronic depression or persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is when depressive symptoms are experienced most days for at least two years.

• Psychotic depression is when depressive symptoms are accompanied by symptoms of psychosis. Psychotic depression symptoms may involve hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and/or delusions (false beliefs that aren’t consistent with reality). 

5. No one chooses to have depression

Like other kinds of illness, depression isn’t something people choose to have. Telling a person with depression to ‘cheer up’ or to ‘snap out of it’ can be harmful and may cause them to feel even more isolated. 

6. Depression isn’t the same as being ‘lazy’ or ‘weak’

Depression can make it very hard to care for yourself. Sometimes just getting out of bed and brushing your teeth might be a struggle. This doesn’t mean you are weak or lazy. Being judged for struggling with daily routines adds to the stigma around depression and makes it harder to be honest about what you’re going through. 

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7. There are many options for treating depression

There are many ways to treat depression, such as talk therapy, art and music therapy, and physical exercise. In some cases, a doctor might prescribe medication to help manage severe symptoms. 

It can take time to find a treatment and a mental health professional that works for you. Don’t give up. Finding the right support will make a big difference.

8. Getting help can be hard, but it’s worth it

Depression can cause feelings of shame or hopelessness, making it hard to ask for help. But it’s a lot harder to try and get through this on your own. Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes – there’s no shame in that. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can start feeling more like yourself again.

You can start by opening up to a trusted friend or family member. When you’re ready, reach out to a GP or mental health professional to discuss treatment and coping strategies. 

If you want to talk to someone anonymously, chat online with a peer worker using ReachOut PeerChat. You can also join our Online Community to connect with other young people experiencing depression.

Want to know more about managing depression? For answers to your questions, Ask ReachOut.