Palmerston North Ph: 06 355 8561
Levin Ph: 06 368 6116
Dannevirke Ph: 06 374 8797

Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems facing people today. Up to one in four women and one in six men can expect to experience depression at some time in their lives. Manawatu SF  provides a Connections with hope,depression programme , below are excerpts from our brochure describing our service for people who experience mild to moderate depression and a checklist to help you decide whether or not you may need some help.

What is depression?

Signs of Depression Include:

  • Feelings of sadness, low mood or emotional numbness that don’t go away.
  • Losing interest and pleasure in your usual activities.
  • Crying for no apparent reason.
  • Feelings of irritability.
  • Excessive anxiety/agitation.
  • Changes in your sleeping or eating patterns.
  • Loss of energy, lethargy, extreme tiredness or fatigue.
  • Lack of motivation.
  • Feeling worthless or hopeless.
  • Feeling guilty for no reason.
  • Problems with thinking clearly or concentration; forgetfulness
  • Thoughts of death.

Depression can affect all areas of your life including family relationships, friendships and the ability to work or go to school.

What Can You Do?

It is okay to ask for help. Most people recover from depression. The most important thing to do is to get help and support.
A professional who is trained to recognise and treat depression can help you to deal with your symptoms and protect you from further episodes.

Psychological treatment and/or medication can make a difference.

Connections with Hope is a free and confidential depression treatment group run by Manawatu SF comprising weekly two-hour sessions over a period of ten weeks. It will include:

  • A safe venue for those who are affected by depression to talk about issues. 
  • Information about depression.
  • New ways of thinking.
  • “Hope” – people do recover and get on with their lives.
  • Helpful resources to take home with you
  • New skills that you can take away with you for the future.

Are You Depressed?

The checklist below will help you to see if you are experiencing a depressive illness.

For more than TWO WEEKS have you:

  • Felt sad, down or miserable most of the time?
  • Lost interest or pleasure in most of your usual activities?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, continue down the symptom checklist below.

Behaviour

  • Stopped going out
  • Not getting things done at work
  • Withdrawn from close family and friends
  • Relying on alcohol and sedatives
  • Stopped doing things you enjoy
  • Unable to concentrate.

Thoughts

  • “I’m a failure”
  • “It’s all my fault”
  • “Nothing good ever happens to me”
  • “I’m worthless”
  • “Life” is not worth living”

Feelings

  • Overwhelmed
  • Unhappy, depressed
  • Irritable
  • Frustrated
  • No confidence
  • Guilty
  • Indecisive
  • Disappointed
  • Miserable
  • Sad

Physical

  • Tired all the time
  • Sick and run down
  • Headaches, muscle pains
  • Churning gut
  • Can’t sleep
  • Poor appetite/weight loss

If you answered “yes” to either question above and show at least three symptoms in the checklist, you probably have depression.

You do not have to cope with this problem alone. 

Contact Manawatu SF for access to this programme.

Palmerston North Ph: 06 355 8561   |   Levin Ph: 06 368 6116   |   Dannevirke Ph: 06 374 8797

Contact Details

Palmerston North

163 Broadway Ave

PO Box 5010
Palmerston North

Phone 06 355 8561/2

© 2024 All rights reserved Manawatu Supporting Families. Website by NYX | Login