How do you kno if somenon is depressd? When someon feels sad or down for more than a couple of weeks, they might be depressed. If someone is depressed they might: feel hopeless or helpless stop liking the thing they used to like doing feel like they have no energy not be able to sleep or they might sleep all the time change how they eat-they might stop eating dinner or they might want to eat heaps of breakfast or lunch have sod or frightening thoughts-they might feel like hurting someone else or hurting themselves.

WHAT DO OU DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS DEPRESSED? Find someone who'll listeN to the problem. The person who is depressed needs a chance to talk to someone who cares about them. Finding a counsellor or a doctor is a good idea. If you're depressed, get smeone to go with you when you go to see the counsellor or doctor. Or if someone tells you they are depressed, go to the counssellor with them so they don't have to go alone. Take care of yourself or the person who's depressed. If you feel stressed because one of your friends is depressed, then you should talk to someone about the problem. If you go to talk to a counsellor about somenon who's depressed, you don't have to say who they are- just talk about how you feel. Remember that you'll be able to give someone who is depressed the most help if you're feeling OK yourself.

WHAT IF YOU FEEL DEPRESSED OR WANT TO KILL YOURSELF? Don't try to keep it a secret-it can be dangerous. Stay close to people who are your friends-talk to a family member or someone else you can trust. Try to get some help-like going to a counsellor or talkin to you doctor. If it's bad and you or someone you know has taken some pills or done something dangerous, then call 000 or get someone to call for you.

SELF HARM What is self-harm/self-multilation? Self-harm or self-mutliation is when you hurt yourself on purpose. This can mean things like slashing, burning, biting and hitting your body. Hurting yourself doesn't mean that you're trying to commit suicide. There are different reasons for doing this: trying to change your mood if you're frustrated or angry and you want those feelings to stop if you kon't know what else to do if you feel hur or lonely. HOW TO COPE things to do instead of hurting yourself: do some exeercis-go for a walk or a run play video games or watch TV or a video try relaxing-taking deep breaths yell or sing at the top of your voice or play some music punch a pillow or a punching bag talk to someone about it.

COUNSELLORS A counsellors is someone who's had special training so that they can help people talk about what they're feeling. A counsellor can help you change the things that are making you feel upset or depressd.

WHERE CAN YOU GO FOR HELP IF YOU FEEL DEPRESSED?

KIDS HELP LINE 1800 551 114 (24 hours) If you're under 18 years old then you can use the Kids Help Line and it's free to call them. Yo can call them any day of the week at any time. When you ring up there will be a counsellor you can talk to about anything you want.

LIFELINE/YOUTHLINE 131 114 (24 hours)

Anyone can call Lifeline for help-you don't need to be under 18. You can call Lifeline from most parts of Australia and it costs as much as a local call does.

If you ring up Lifeline or the Kids Help Line and all the counsellors are busy, you can wait until someone can talk to you. It's a good idea to wait and it won't take that long to talk to someone.