Understanding Depression

What is Depression

Everyone feels sad sometimes. But depression is more than sadness. You may be depressed if certain feelings and moods last for more than 2 weeks and get in the way of your life.

What are some signs that I could be depressed?

You may feel:

Very sad
Hopeless
Worthless
Guilty
Empty or numb
Angry
Grouchy
Like not doing things you used to enjoy

You may notice that your mood gets in the way of your life. It could impact things at home or school. It could also impact your friendships. You may notice changes with:

How your body works. You may:
- Gain or lose weight
- Sleep too much or too little
- Feel tired most of the time
- Move quicker or slower than normal
How you think. You may:
- Be unable to focus
- Think about harming yourself

Help is Available

Remember, if you feel depressed, you can get better. See below for ways to get help. If you think about harming yourself, reach out for help right away. You can:

Call 988: The national helpline for suicide and mental health. Dial ‘988’ and someone will help you.

Text the Crisis Text Line: The national text line when you are in crisis. Text HOME to 741741 and someone will text you back and help you.