What to do - depression sufferer

You can find more information at www.depressionalliance.org/Contents

Know what the symptoms of depression are. If you are suffering from depression, get help as soon as possible. Consult your GP.

Tackle the symptoms

Your GP (doctor) may prescribe drugs to raise your mood. These drugs often work by combatting low seratonin levels in the brain. They are usually non-addictive. Bringing seratonin levels back to normal helps to relieve the symptoms of depression, but you still need to tackle the causes.

Tackle the causes

Your GP may not have time to help you tackle the causes of your depression. The specialist who can do this is a stress counsellor. You may have to pay for treatment. Your GP can recommend someone. You can also find a list of local counsellors at the Citizens' Advice Bureau. Make sure you specify stress counselling.

If you are employed by an LEA, check whether there is an occupational scheme run by the LEA. Contact the County Education Personnel Officer.

A stress counsellor is a professional who can

• help you to understand your symptoms
• help you to understand the causes of your injury
• help you to recognise misplaced guilt over inability to work or work effectively
• help you to accept that you are suffering from an injury, and to cope in a society which is, by and large, unaware or ignorant of this type of injury
• help you to make the necessary changes to your behaviour, your thinking, your life-style choices, the situations you are in (especially at school)
• help you to cope with what may be a long-term recovery and convalescence