We all feel down or fed-up at times but these feelings don't usually last and are a normal response to problems or difficulties in our lives. However, when they don't go away, are more than we can cope with and our ability to carry out our work and have satisfying personal relationships is affected, it may be depression.
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Mental health is about how healthy your mind is. It is about your thoughts, moods and how you deal with the ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ of life. Good mental health doesn’t mean you’re in a good mood all the time, that’s impossible. It means you enjoy good times, cope with bad times and bounce back afterwards.
It’s normal to have ‘good’ and ‘bad’ moods and these change all the time, depending on what’s happening to you.You’re probably in a good mood when your team wins or you’re going out with friends, and feel happy and excited. You might be in a bad mood when you have too much homework or break up with your boy/girlfriend, and feel sad or angry. Even the bad moods don’t usually last long but this all depends on what you think about the situation and also what you do about it (your behaviour).
You might want to talk to someone you trust about how you’re feeling. Most likely, by talking to people you trust, getting the right support and trying out some of the self-help tips, you will get through difficult times and feel better again.
However, if the moods are lasting a long time (a few weeks or more), are more than you can cope with, or affect your daily activities and relationships, it might be depression. We highly recommend you visit your GP or school counsellor if your moods or feelings are more than you can cope with.