LEVEL 1

Everybody feels sad or blue now and then but if it continues for a week or two you may be feeling depressed.

If you think you're depressed... TALK TO SOMEONE!

• If you are concerned about depression in yourself or a friend, TALK TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP.
• There are many people who you can talk to.
• Talk to family member or a trusted friend about how you’re feeling. They can help you figure out solutions to some of the problems you are dealing with.

WRITE

• Write about the problems you’re facing and about possible solutions.
• Write about your feelings and what choices you have.

SET GOALS

• Set clear, realistic goals that are important to you and that are likely to succeed.
• Goal setting is a powerful way to go about moving from knowing what you should do to planning how you’re going to make it happen.
• It’s an action plan.

EXERCISE

• We all know that exercise and proper diet are good for you.
• Proper nutrition and diet give you lots of energy and help you sleep better.
• People who eat well and exercise regularly feel more confident, more energetic, and better able to cope with stress.

MAKE A CHANGE

• Change gives you power.
• Doing nothing makes you feel powerless and helpless.
• You have choices in what you think and do.
• As you work to make a change you get back your control of your life and that makes you feel stronger.

• If you try some of these things and still feel sad you may be depressed.
• If you think you have depression, it is important that you find support.
• You don’t have to do it alone. Talking it over with someone you trust can help you understand your problems or put them in perspective.
• REMEMBER - Depression can affect people of any age, race, ethnic, or economic group.

Go to HELP LINES