Low Mood and Depression
What is low mood and depression?
We all feel low at times and these feelings can often come and go, but sometimes these feelings can last for months or longer and stop you from enjoying life – this is called depression.
Depression can make you feel unenthusiastic about things you would usually enjoy doing, and you might feel as though you have no energy. You might also feel worthless and hopeless.
Depression may make you experience dark or negative thoughts. Sometimes it can make you feel life isn’t worth living or make you want to harm yourself. It is important that you get help if this happens.
This video describes what depression can feel like and what can help.
Many things can cause low mood and depression. You might have experienced stressful life events like bullying or bereavement, or you might be living in difficult conditions which can make it hard to be hopeful about the future. Chronic or acute medical conditions may also cause depression, as can experiencing loneliness or isolation. Sometimes depression can be linked to genetic factors or personality traits and can be impacted further by drug and alcohol use. It maybe a combination of these factors that lead to someone feeling depressed.
Low mood and depression can feel different for different people, but here are some common symptoms:
- feeling sad, upset and down most or all the time
- feeling extra irritable
- feeling numb or empty
- not wanting to do things you used to enjoy
- avoiding friends or social situations
- sleeping more or less than usual
- eating more or less than usual
- struggling to focus
- being self-critical
- feeling hopeless
- feeling tired a lot of the time
- feeling guilty, or like you’re a burden on others
- Wanting to hurt yourself or end your life
Advice to help me
Experiencing depression can be very difficult but there are lots of ways to get support and to help you start to feel better:.
Stay connected with friends and family. Try and resist the urge to withdraw from people as having social connections can help. If meeting up with people is too difficult right now maybe try smaller steps like sending messages or sharing posts.
Be active. This doesn’t have to be intense – going on a brisk walk or taking the stairs instead of the lift can help
Try and eat a well-balanced diet. Eating at regular times can be helpful and can help boost your energy levels.
Be mindful of your relationship with alcohol and drugs, as these increase symptoms of depression
Try and keep to a routine. Setting small goals and activities which add structure to your day can help increase your motivation levels. If you are feeling depressed, managing a task like getting out of bed can be a massive achievement, which you can then build on over time
Notice the little things around you to be grateful for. See if you can find something good in every day, for example hearing someone laugh, watching something you enjoy or noticing the sun shining (or the sound of the rain!). Keeping a gratitude journal might help
You might find keeping a mood diary helpful to work out how your mood is impacted by what is going on in your life. Sometimes, identifying patterns can guide us in making changes that can improve our mood
There are lots of ways we can care for ourselves which are individual to us. Self-care can range from pausing to breathe for a minute to finding a hobby that we enjoy. Have a look at this self-care resource that has lots of ideas for looking after yourself
Speak to someone you trust about how you’re feeling, like a friend, family member, teacher, or anyone else you feel comfortable with. Sharing how you’re feeling is often the first step to feeling better.
Who can help me?
Accessing support in your local area, or on-line, may be useful if you are experiencing mental health difficulties that are having mild or moderate impact on your daily life . Based on your symptoms, age and where you live, the support below might be useful for you:
Thrive hubs can help you understand your options.
Our service is designed to advise, guide, signpost and get help for young people within Manchester currently facing mental health and emotional wellbeing issues.
Learn more about Thrive HubsFor young people looking for emotional wellbeing support, this website offers a range of information and services, including counselling, psycho-social support, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Gaddum’s bereavement services provide therapeutic support to children and young people who have suffered a bereavement.
Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death, no matter how long ago. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief.
An on-line resource with lots of advice and information for young people.
We provide mental health support within education settings across Manchester, including primary and secondary schools and colleges
Offering counselling support for young people with anxiety, depression, anger, difficult life experiences, panic attacks, struggling to cope, low self-esteem, hearing voices, unwanted thoughts or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Offering a 10-week Junior Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS) Their Children’s Healthy Lifestyle Practitioners will connect families to fun activities in your local area.
We provide mental health support within education settings across Salford, including primary and secondary schools and colleges.
Stop.Breathe.Think is a mental health charity offering online counselling to those aged 8-21, who cannot afford or access support quickly. No wait times and available nationally, we provide vital support to those who need it right now.
A mental health charity offering online counselling to those aged 8-21, who cannot afford or access support quickly. No wait times and available nationally, we provide vital support to those who need it right now.
Offering a variety of resources to encourage healthy relationships between a child and their parent is suitable when a young person would like to or would benefit from developing a better understanding of safe, happy, and healthy relationships.
TDAS works with children and young people in Trafford who have been exposed to domestic abuse or are at risk of being involved in unhealthy relationships.
We provide mental health support within education settings across Trafford, including primary and secondary schools and colleges.
Trafford Youth Engagement team delivers a number of services from our Talkshop base in Sale. Talkshop is an advice, support and information centre for young people aged 11 to 19 (up to 25 with additional needs or care leavers).
CAMHS Services
A referral to a CAMHS service might be useful if you are experiencing mental health difficulties that are having a significant impact on your daily life. Based on your age, symptoms and where you live, the following services might be appropriate for you:
We are an NHS service that offers support and treatment to children and young people up to 18 years old who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and wellbeing. We also support parents, carers, and families of these children and young people
The Community Eating Disorder Service (CEDS) is a specialist CAMHS community team (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), for children and young people aged 5 – 17 who may be presenting with an eating disorder or eating disorder difficulties. We provide specialist evidence-based therapeutic interventions to young people and their families, through a range of treatments, as well as physical health monitoring.
We are a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) working with deaf children and their families. We cover the North of England and have teams in York, Manchester and Newcastle.
Emerge 16-17 CMHT provide a wide range of community based mental health services, including risk and duty support, to young people aged 16 and 17.
Galaxy House helps young people with a range of mental health difficulties including eating disorders and medically unexplained symptoms, as well as managing associated behaviours such as self-harm. Admission lengths vary depending on the young person’s needs and their care pathway. We work closely with families and community agencies to enable young people to be discharged from hospital at an appropriate time in their recovery. In addition to its 12 beds (all single rooms with 2 en-suite) Galaxy House has living, dining, therapy and outdoor space. It also has its own school provided across 2 classrooms within the building, which provides National Curriculum education from 9.30am to 3.15pm each weekday by staff from Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital School. Referrals may be for consultation, second opinion or for consideration of admission.
The Manchester CAMHS team for Looked After Children is a CAMHS team for children and young people cared for by Manchester City Council.
We are an NHS service that offers support and treatment to children and young people up to 18 years old who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and wellbeing. We also support parents, carers, and families of these children and young people.
The Paediatric Psychosocial Service (PPS) is a specialist CAMHS team (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, for children who are being treated at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. By providing psychological and psychiatric assessment and treatment for patients who have emotional and mental health problems related to their underlying physical illness.
We are an NHS service that offers support and treatment to children and young people up to 18 years old who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and wellbeing. We also support parents, carers, and families of these children and young people.
We are an NHS service that offers support and treatment to children and young people up to 18 years old who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and wellbeing. We also support parents, carers, and families of these children and young people.
The Tertiary Paediatric Fatigue Team is a team made up of different professionals who can support you to manage fatigue. The team can provide you with help to manage your symptoms and find strategies to manage your day-to-day life. We support you with conditions such as ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and Post-covid Syndrome (Long Covid). The service provided is based on NICE Guidance- this is to make sure treatments are safe, effective and based on research. You will receive medical reviews based on your needs at that time, while taking steps towards feeling better.
We are an NHS service that offers support and treatment to children and young people up to 18 years old who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and wellbeing. We also support parents, carers, and families of these children and young people.
We are a specific CAMHS team for young people who may have been involved in the youth justice system. We are based within Manchester Youth Justice supporting Children who may be on a statutory court order or on intensive supervision.