WH&S – Depression
This month we have decided to stray from what most would consider a typical WH&S issue. Depression affects roughly 1 in 5 people at some point in their lives and is the most common form of mental illness. Depression is more than just feeling a little down because of recent problems in both your social and working life and there is a whole range of causes that lead to depression.
Some of the key signs that you or someone you know may have depression are:
- Feeling unhappy, moody or irritable most of the time;
- Feelings of emptiness or numbness;
- Losing interest and pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed;
- Change in appetite, eating habits or weight (e.g. either weight loss from
- Having a poor appetite or weight gain from turning to comfort foods and overeating);
- Change in sleep habits (e.g. either difficulty sleeping, or sometimes staying in bed most of the day);
- Tiredness, lack of energy and motivation (e.g. finding it hard to ‘get going’);
- Difficulty concentrating and/or making decisions;
- Feeling bad, worthless or guilty or being overly critical of oneself;
- Negative or ‘down on yourself’ thoughts; and
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
Source: Youth BeyondBlue
Having depression is nothing to be ashamed of. The important thing to know is that you’re not alone and that there is light at the end of the tunnel even if it doesn’t feel that way. With the correct help and a bit of time, things can and do change.
If for any reason you are having any issues, please don’t hesitate in contacting your field officer. As a third party, you might find talking to your field officer easier rather than approaching someone closer to you. Here at 1300apprentice, we assist our apprentices and trainees in completing their training and building successful careers and as a result, we’ll do as much as we can to help anyone who approaches us with any issues.
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