Clinical depression is an illness, a medical condition. It significantly affects the way someone feels, causing a persistent lowering of mood.

Depression is often accompanied by a range of other physical and psychological symptoms that can interfere with the way a person is able to function in their everyday life. The symptoms of depression generally react positively to treatment.

While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time (weeks, months or even years) and sometimes without any apparent reason. Depression is more than just a low mood – it's a serious condition that affects your physical and mental health.

View this web page from Beyond Blue to learn more.

People who are depressed are people who are feeling very sad inside.

What change helps if you are depressed or very sad inside?

View this fact sheet to find out more.

We all have good days and bad days. Then there are those days when something isn't quite right, you've got something on your mind, or things just seem too much. Whatever it may be, sharing the load with someone else can really help. So no matter who you are, or how you're feeling, you can talk it through with us – we'll point you in the right direction so you can seek further support.

All chats and calls are confidential.

Most of us wouldn’t try and treat a broken leg ourselves. But when it comes to our mental health we sometimes think we can fix things on our own, or hope the issue just goes away by itself.

That’s where health professionals come in. There are plenty of effective treatments for anxiety and depression, and the sooner you seek support, the sooner you can recover.

View this web page from Beyond Blue to find out more.

This fact sheet by the Black Dog Institute provides information about the signs and types of depression experienced by adolescents and young people, and where to seek help.

This fact sheet by the Black Dog Institute provides information about the signs and types of depression experienced by older people, and where to seek help.

This fact sheet from the Black Dog Institute provides information about how exercise can alleviate the symptoms of depression.

When setting a goal for yourself it is always a good idea to make it a SMART one! Learn about SMART goal setting and use the worksheet to write your own goals.

Produced by Black Dog Institute.

A healthy lifestyle is important for everyone. When we look after our physical health, we feel better too – fitter, more relaxed and better able to cope with things. This is especially important when you have a mental illness. There are lots of ways of being healthy that feel good as well as doing you good.

Beyond Blue is here to help all people in Australia achieve their best possible mental health.

Whether you're seeking mental health information or 24/7 qualified support for you or someone else, we're here for you.

SANE Australia supports people affected by mental illness, their family and friends with a suite of programs including:

Helpline 1800 – National Freecall service providing information, advice, and referral on mental illness
Helpline Online - personal email responses to Helpline enquiries via the SANE website
Helpline Chat - real–time online chat service.
SANE Forums - an online peer-to-peer support service, operated in partnership with other mental health organisations around the country. Supported by the Australian Government, Department of Health.