All people experience sadness at times and this is a completely normal emotional response to some life events. With normal sadness the feeling will pass and we will recover within a relatively short time.

Depression is a different experience where a person will have an intense feeling of sadness that is constant and continual over two weeks or more and affects the person’s ability to function normally. Symptoms may include overwhelming sadness, anger or irritability, loss of interest in pleasurable activates, withdrawal from social events, tiredness or lethargy, change to sleep patterns, change to appetite and more.

Depression is a debilitating experience that can affect a person’s relationships, ability to work/study and socialise. Depression is not something that people can see (although people may see changes in the person’s behaviour). A person who is experiencing depression can feel very alone and believe they have little control over how they are feeling and behaving.