Depression

Everyone feels sad, moody or low from time to time. Depression, however, is a serious mental health issue where sadness, flat or low mood, or a sense of ‘emptiness’ is prolonged – lasting weeks, months and sometimes years.

Depression isn’t just about ‘feeling down’. It presents with a number of other symptoms and interferes with daily life and relationships.

Depression is a common reason for people to seek help from mental health professionals, and research suggests that there are a number of effective psychological treatments available.

The most effective psychological treatments for depression are cognitive behavioural therapy, problem-solving therapy, behavioural activation and interpersonal psychotherapy.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has also been shown to be effective in preventing future periods of depression in those people who have previously experienced depression.