The main medical treatment for depression is antidepressant medication.
If you're experiencing moderate to severe depression your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medication, along with psychological treatments. Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed when other treatments have not been successful or when psychological treatments aren't possible due to the severity of the condition or a lack of access to the treatment.
People with more severe forms of depression (bipolar disorder and psychosis) generally need to be treated with medication. This may include one or a combination of mood stabilisers, anti-psychotic drugs and antidepressants.
Source: Beyond Blue
GENERAL INFO
Links and phone numbers throughout this site are live, tap to access.
HealthDirect: Anti-depressant medicines
PsyCom: 'Teen depression' The pros and cons of medication
Beyond Blue: Treatments for depression
NPS: Medicines for depression and anxiety
SELF-HELP
Talk to your GP/doctor or contact Your Crew to
help you such as help you speak to your parents or get you to your doctor.
If you feel at immediate risk call 000
Call Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
Mayo Clinic: 'Antidepressants' Get tips to cope with side effects
Finding a psychologists
Psychology Today: Find counselling or support groups
APS: Find a psychologist -by issue, name, location or area
Australian Register of counsellors & psychotherapists: HERE
Australian Counselling Association (ACA): Find a counsellor
FORUMS, TOOLS & VIDEOS
Crewing for or helping others
Sometimes, it can be hard to know what to do to support someone. You may feel stressed or scared you'll say the wrong thing.
Remember your main role as Crew or a supportive friend or family is to listen, acknowledge and communicate support. That can mean calling a professional service such as Kids Helpline or, in an emergency, calling 000 They can also guide you on what to do.
See How to Ask If Your Friend Is OK video
If you are under 18 years old, you can also reach out to an adult or your Crew to help you support someone.
See Professional and Urgent Help for a list of services with live phone numbers and links
See Pathways to Help
MyDR: Antidepressant medicines
Mayo Clinic: Antidepressants for children and teens
HeadSpace: Antidepressants
Very Well Mind: Cautions about the use of antidepressants
AFR: What antidepressants can do to a brain that is not depressed
MyDR: Antidepressant medicines
Mayo Clinic: Antidepressants for children and teens
HeadSpace: Antidepressants
Very Well Mind: Cautions about the use of antidepressants
NPS: Stopping antidepressants
AFR: What antidepressants can do to a brain that is not depressed
