Let's Talk About Depression This World Health Day

By Rachel Lamb . 07/04/2017 · 2 Minute read

April 7^th is World Health Day, but that doesn’t stop at physical health. Statistics released by the World Health Organisation revealed that depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide, with more than 300 million people now living with depression. Between 2005 and 2015, this number increased by 18%.

Unfortunately, due to the stigma attached to mental health problems and a distinct lack of support available, many people go through life never receiving help for their depression.

Your World wants to change that.

We want people suffering from depression to know that there ARE ways to get help and here are a few of them:

Contact a support charity

Support charities have been set up for anyone needing urgent help with their mental health. Anyone in need can contact a charity and be supported in a variety of ways.

Contact a charity such as Aware if you need urgent help with your depression.

Find a depression support group

Many of these charities also provide access to a wide range of support groups or ‘peer support’. In these groups, people discuss their experiences with depression or mental health issues in order to support each other.

Find a peer support group

Confide in someone you trust

If you have someone close to you, such as a friend, relative or even a colleague at work, confide your feelings to them. Explain that you need some support with what you are dealing with and unload the emotional baggage you are carrying. Bottling up your emotions can lead you to deal with your depression in other unhealthier ways.

Seek counselling

Counselling provides you with the opportunity to talk to a specialist in a safe space. Your counsellor will be specifically trained to deal with mental health issues and may help you to work through them and improve your quality of life.

Speak to your GP

Your GP doesn’t only help you to manage your physical health but can provide treatment for mental health struggles too. Be open and discuss what’s going on with your GP – they will help you find ways to deal with your depression.