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Depression – for young people

What to do if you or a friend is depressed

Key points about what to do if you or a friend is depressed

If you have signs of depression, it’s important that you get help – the earlier you get help, the easier it is to get over your depression.
There are trained people who will be supportive of you and who know how to help you.
Depression is common and most people who get it recover well.
The key thing is to talk to someone, so you can get help – talk to your parents, a teacher or a friend or try any of the helplines on this page.
There are things you can do yourself as well, such as online tools and lifestyle changes.

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Talk to someone even though the feelings that are part of depression can make it hard to talk about it, such as feeling that you are no good or being scared that you are going mad. But these thoughts are just part of depression, so don’t listen to them, and instead tell someone how you are feeling. There are people who can help you get through it.
Lifestyle improvements can help your mood a lot. Focus on having a healthy lifestyle: healthy eating, physical activity and plenty of sleep.
Limit how much time you spend online and on screens and instead spend more time outside/in nature – this has been shown to help beat depression.
If you drink alcohol or take recreational drugs, stop using them as they make you more depressed. Find out more about alcohol and mental health.
Check out The Lowdown(external link), SPARX(external link), What’s Up(external link) and depression apps and e-learning, as well as depression support and resources below.
Get involved in something that feels meaningful to you, whether it’s through your school, a sport, your church or your marae, or a community project.

Find out more about living well with depression.

Apps reviewed by Healthify

You may find it useful to look at some Depression apps and Mental health and wellbeing apps for teenagers and young people.

Image credit: Sketchplanations.com(external link)

If you are concerned about a friend, ask them about it. Get some ideas about how to do that at Seize the Awkward(external link).
If your friend is depressed, encourage them to tell an adult such as a parent, teacher or school counsellor, or to contact one of the helplines on this page.
Don't carry your concerns alone: tell an adult if you are worried about a friend, such as a parent, teacher, school counsellor, or you can call one of the helplines too to talk about a friend.

Understanding Depression and Low Mood in Young People(external link) A free course by Future Learn. The course has been specifically created for parents of young people with depression and low mood, teachers and primary (or other) healthcare professionals who play a role in detecting mental health difficulties and offering appropriate support and guidance to young people.

Video: Adam's experience of depression

Youth presenter Adam shares his experience of depression. This may take a few moments to load.

(Black Dog Institute, AU, 2013)

Video: The Lowdown

The Lowdown(external link) is a website to help young New Zealanders recognise and understand depression or anxiety. However you may be feeling, The Lowdown is full of ideas and people who can help you get unstuck and get to a better place.

It can help you find the way to start a conversation with your family/whānau and friends about issues you are facing and help reduce the impact of depression and anxiety in your life. This video may take a few moments to load.

(The Lowdown, NZ, 2017)

SPARX

SPARX was developed with the help of young people and is based on a type of talking therapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). You can do CBT with a counsellor or a psychologist but you can also learn CBT skills from a computer programme like SPARX.

What makes computerised CBT like SPARX unique is that you can do it on your own, at your own pace, whenever and wherever it suits you – all you need is a computer with access to the internet.

Video: SPARX – Free self help tool for depression and anxiety. Learn to take control!

(SPARX, NZ, 2022)

A message from Stan Walker

Stan Walker shares why he is supporting SPARX. Stan has made his single 'Bully' available to be used to promote SPARX.

Video: Feeling down, worried or stressed? Take control with SPARX!.

(SPARX, NZ, 2014)

Video: Feeling down, worried or stressed? Take control with SPARX!

SPARX is an online programme designed to help young people cope with feeling down, worried or stressed. SPARX can help you cope with those thoughts and feelings keeping you down. This video may take a few moments to load.