Depression

Feeling Low

We all feel low from time to time - unhappiness of a kind which passes and does not interfere with everyday life too much. Sometimes low mood can become more profound and persistent. If you would like to improve your mood, please consider the following:

• Learn to improve your ability to tolerate difficult thoughts and feelings at our weekly session on mindfulness.
• NHS Moodzone offers practical advice, interactive tools, videos and audio guides to help you feel mentally and emotionally better. It includes tips to help you be happier, more in control, and able to cope better with life’s ups and downs.
• Be more active. There’s lots of research about the benefits of physical exercise on our mental health. Take a look at MMU Sport’s health and fitness offer.
• Consider joining one of the many student societies run or taking part in local volunteering opportunities.

Depression

Depression is more than feeling low for a few days. It brings with it difficult symptoms such as losing interest in life, irritability, tiredness, low self-esteem and loss of confidence or sex drive and changes in appetite.

Depression can be hugely debilitating and people can have suicidal thoughts. Fortunately there are effective treatments for depression such as talking therapies and medication. Self-help, such as exercise and mindfulness may also help to manage symptoms. Details of these and other ideas are included in the ‘Depression’ resources below:

• The two NHS Leaflets on ‘Depression’ and ‘Depression and Low Mood’ are the most relevant though others may be useful too.
• Mindfulness information - what it is, how it can benefit it us and how to do it. 
• Information, podcasts and booklets about the benefits of physical exercise on our mental health may encourage you to get active. They are put together by the charity Mental Health Foundation (‘Let’s Get Physical’ is well worth a read). It is also worth looking at MMU Sport’s health and fitness offer.
• Resources written by the Australian public health service CCI offer cognitive behavioural therapy based self-help. You work through the modules (information, exercises, activities and worksheets) by printing them off or saving them online. Probably the most relevant workbook here is the one called ‘Back from the Bluez’.
• Living Life to the Full provides cognitive behavioural therapy based self-help using videos and written material.
• Students Against Depression provides information and resources for students who experience depression.