HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
If self-care techniques and lifestyle changes alone haven't helped you feel better, there are lots of other options for treatment. Start by talking to your GP, practice nurse or other health professional about how you're feeling. They can help with treatment ideas and options to best suit you.
Often, a combination of treatments with self-care and lifestyle changes work best.
Consider doing an online course about depression. These courses can help you understand your illness and motivate you with goals. They're useful for everyone, especially if you live in a rural area or if transport is a problem.
A set of tools to help with feelings of anxiety, stress, or low mood.
Free online courses for people with anxiety and depression. The courses take six to eight weeks to complete and include a generalised anxiety and a depression course.
This online programme is based on cognitive behavioural therapy, one of the most common treatments for anxiety. The programme is free but you'll need to be referred by your GP to take part in this programme.
Talking therapies help with depression in all age groups. They help you find new ways to think about events in your life and are very effective at treating depression.
A psychologist or counsellor or BIS worker can provide talking therapy and emotional support.
Your GP can help you find a therapist or refer you for some free counselling. You can find a counsellor, therapist or psychiatrist in the Family Services Directory. The West Coast Primary Health Organisation can provide information about local support groups and resources, phone (03) 768-1170. Some therapy options will cost, but your GP can talk through the approximate cost with you.
The Clearhead app is your private wellbeing assistant who will help you with learning about your mental health. It's free and you can use it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can receive regular support and advice from your mobile phone or computer wherever you are, whenever you need it. You can use it in English or te reo Māori.
Your GP or psychiatrist may feel that medication could be effective. Medications are a common treatment for depression in adults but aren't usually used to treat children and young people.
There are several types of antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline are most commonly used. Most people start noticing an improvement two to three weeks after starting medication.
After four to six weeks, your doctor will check if your medication is working and if you're having any unwanted effects. The dose or type of antidepressant can be changed if needed.
It's normal to take antidepressants for a year or longer if you've had depression before.
You can read more about medications on Healthify He Puna Wairoa's Antidepressants page. You can find out more about the particular medicines you're taking in Medications for mental health issues.
A community support worker can help you with many difficulties you might be having in day-to-day life, like managing household tasks, finances and relationships.
Other health professionals can help with mental health including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and chiropractors.
The West Coast Primary Health Organisation can provide information about local support groups and resources. Phone (03) 768-1170.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
Ideas and stories to help people with depression and anxiety get to a better place.
Website helping young Kiwis understand and deal with depression.
On the next page: Supporting someone with depression
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Page updated August 2021.
See also:
Review key: HIDEP-48681