HEALTH

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We're dedicated to bringing awareness to mental health issues...one of them being depression. Deciding whether or not to take anti-depressants—or any other form of medication—isn’t an easy decision for anyone, especially when you're young.  However, there are several signs that appear for people in need of medical attention. These six signs could mean it's time for you to talk to a doctor.

1. You’ve been in counselling for months and you don’t feel better
Counseling is a great way to get things off your chest and to learn new techniques to cope with your depression. At the same time, counseling can only do so much. If you have implemented the changes your counselor suggested into your life like exercising or eating healthier and you haven’t seen a change, you should start talking to your doctor about other options.

2. You continuously feel debilitated because of your depression/anxiety
People who are in need of medication could struggle to find motivation to do the little things like taking a shower, brushing their teeth, hanging out with a friend or doing a simple homework assignment. For instance, if you are struggling to get out of bed in the morning not because you’re so sleepy but because your emotions are so overwhelming you have no energy or motivation to get up, then it may be time to start researching different medications.

3. The things that once brought you joy don’t anymore
Those struggling with depression don’t find pleasure out of their usual hobbies anymore. If you love writing short stories or dressing up in the mornings, but now it just seems like tiresome work, it could be a sign you need medical attention.

4. You can’t imagine going on living like this
Check in with your emotions and mental state and ask yourself, “Can I go on like this for another month?” If not, that means you are really struggling and need extra help.

5. You are having suicidal thoughts or you have attempted to harm yourself
This is automatically a red flag. If you ever catch yourself thinking about committing suicide or harming yourself in any way, call your doctor, therapist or parents. That's a clear sign to start talking to your doctor about medication.

If you or a friend are experiencing suicidal thoughts alert a parent, guardian or counselor OR call the National Suicide Prevention Lfieline at 1-800-273-8255.

by Joy Cato | 5/21/2018