Home|Depression|Anxiety|Bipolar Disorder|Postnatal Depression

beyondblue: the national depression initiative

About Depression and Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety

What is Depression?

What is Anxiety?

Checklists to Identify Depression and Anxiety

Life Course of Depression and Anxiety

How Can I Tell if Someone is Depressed or Anxious?

What Can I Do to Help?

Understanding the Illness

Where Can I Get Help?

Treatments for Depression and Anxiety

Feeling Blue?

Staying Well

Depression and Suicide
Home >>About Depression and Anxiety >>Depression and Anxiety >>What is Depression?
About Depression and Anxiety
What is Depression?
  • Depression is not simply normal sadness, being moody or just a low mood, but a serious illness. It causes both physical and psychological symptoms.
  • Depression is common. Up to one in four females and one in six males will experience depression in their lifetime.
  • Depression is the leading cause of suicide.
  • Depression is often not recognised or treated.
  • Current treatments for depression are safe and effective.
  • Depression also commonly occurs with specific anxiety syndromes.

Are you depressed?
Complete the checklist below to see if you are possibly suffering from a depressive illness. Please note, we keep no record of your test results or identity.

For more than TWO WEEKS have you:
1. Felt sad, down or miserable most of the time? Yes No
2. Lost interest or pleasure in most of your usual activities? Yes No
If you answered 'YES' to either of these questions, complete the symptom checklist below.
BEHAVIOURS
Stopped going out
Not getting things done at work
Withdrawn from close family and friends
Relying on alcohol and sedatives
Stopped doing things you enjoy
Unable to concentrate
THOUGHTS
"I'm a failure"
"It's all my fault"
"Nothing good ever happens to me"
"I'm worthless"
"Life is not worth living"
FEELINGS
Overwhelmed
Unhappy, depressed
Irritable
Frustrated
No confidence
Guilty
Indecisive
Disappointed
Miserable
Sad
PHYSICAL
Tired all the time
Sick and run down
Headaches and muscle pains
Churning gut
Can't sleep
Poor appetite/weight loss

If you answered 'YES' to question 1 and/or 2 and ticked at least three symptoms in the checklist, you probably have a depressive illness.

*These websites in addition to beyondblue have received the highest quality-of-content ratings and are recommended overall for information about depression (Griffiths K, & Christensen H, Medical Journal of Australia, 2002).

Source: Hickie et al. Educational Health Solutions; 2000. Reproduced with permission.


SearchGo

info line: 1300 22 46 36 - Call the beyondblue info line for information and referral to a health professional.  24 hours, local call cost

Click here to find a Doctor or other Mental Health Practitioner

Our ambassadors

Workplace Program
Workplace Program

youthbeyondblue - youth program

Make a secure donation online at ourcommunity.com.au

Find us on Facebook

Other languages

Personal experiences

Bulletin Board

Events diary

Multimedia
Play beyondblue's Bipolar Disorder TV advert

Play beyondblue's Depression in men TV advert

Play beyondblue's Postnatal depression TV advert

Last updated Thursday, 06 July 2006Print this pageEmail this page726,977 page views from 07 May 2007 to 10 Feb 2010
Contact Us|Links|About this Site|Disclaimer|Privacy|Copyright
The information presented on this website is general and not a substitute for professional advice. Refer to the beyondblue Website Terms of Use. The information is current at the time it was published. beyondblue regularly reviews this information. beyondblue expressly disclaims any and all liability for any loss or damage (whether direct, indirect or consequential, including in negligence) suffered or incurred by any person relying on this information including as a result of any omission, inadequacy, insufficiency or inaccuracy in its content.