Depression

You can feel depressed and stressed for a number of reasons, such as pressure from school, college, or work, problems with family and friends, or because you are having difficulties with your boyfriend or girlfriend..

If you feel down:

talk to friends, family, your doctor or a Personal Adviser; the old saying that a problem shared is a problem halved is truer than you think
remind yourself about the great times you’ve had: the last time you really laughed, the last really good song you heard, the last movie you loved; you may feel down now, but it won’t last forever
do things you enjoy and keep active
keep people around you that you love - they want what’s best for you and will watch out for you; if you feel like you can’t talk to anyone you know, talk to a Personal Adviser at the Alma Street Drop-in Centre
stay away from drink and drugs – they will only make you feel worse in the long run
eat a balanced diet and do regular exercise
try to think about one good thing each day that you have done - did you make someone smile?

It’s normal to feel a bit down from time to time, but if you feel so depressed that you are seriously considering harming yourself or others, you should tell someone you trust

Where to get help if you are depressed

Talk Zone

Talk Zone is a free, confidential counselling service for 13-21 year olds in Luton.

Call 01582 401366 or find out more about Talk Zone.

Personal Advisers

You can talk to a Youth Service Personal Adviser who can help you find the support you need. Youth support is confidential but in some cases PAs may need to tell someone else, especially if you are in danger of harming yourself or others. They will explain to you in which circumstances they would need to contact other people.

If you feel really bad and are finding it difficult to cope with everyday life, it is a good idea to speak to your GP in the first instance. They will be able to prescribe you medication (if necessary), refer you to a trained counsellor and possibly refer you to a specialist team who will be fully equipped to help you. There is no shame in admitting that you are seriously depressed to people that you trust, and it’s the first step on the road to recovery and helping yourself.

Luton Churches Education Trust (LCET)

LCET run small therapeutic groups on a range of subjects including self harm.
www.lcet.org or www.selfharm.co.uk
Tel: 01582 87 72 20
Email: mail@lcet.org

CALM

CALM offer support and advice for young men in Luton and Bedfordshire, up to the age of 25, who are feeling low or suicidal.
www.thecalmzone.net
Freephone: 0800 58 58 58
Email: info@thecalmzone.net

National contacts

Childline

A free 24 hour counselling service for children and young people.
www.childline.org.uk
Tel: 0800 11 11

Papyrus

A service for young people who are suicidal.
www.papyrus-uk.org
Helpline: 08701 70 40 00

National Self-Harm Network

A service supporting individuals who self harm.
www.nshn.co.uk
Freephone: 08006 22 60 00
Email: info@nshn.co.uk

Mind

A mental health charity - they have local branches and can offer advice and information on a range of issues.
www.mind.org.uk
Helpline: 08457 66 01 63

The Samaritans

A confidential 24 hour service for people in emotional distress.
www.samaritans.org
Tel: 08457 90 90 90
Email: jo@samaritans.org

Alma Street Drop-in Centre

Get The Balance Right

Click here to download a new booklet Get The Balance Right! which deals with many topics like alcohol, drugs, smoking, healthy lifestyles, depression, self harm, relationships, sexuality, pregnancy and forced marriages.

If you would like a physical copy of the booklet, please email youth@luton.gov.uk with your name and address.