Depression’s an illness and it’s an illness that often won’t get better by itself. It’s the same with anxiety. They’re illnesses that may make you feel overwhelmed, upset, angry, scared, unmotivated - the effects are different for different people. You might feel as if things will never improve, that there’s no way of getting through it.
The good news is that the help you need is out there. There are lots of services in the community that can give advice and suggest treatment options for mental health problems.
Places to get help
- Phone help lines and websites
- Don’t hesitate to get help for yourself (or someone you know) for depression. Below are some numbers you can call for assistance.
The Befrienders Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-7956 8144/8145 (24 hours)
Website: www.befrienders.org.my
The Befrienders Penang
Tel: 04-281 1108 (3pm-midnight)
Website: www.befrienders.org.my
Agape Counselling Centre Malaysia
Tel: 03-7785 5955
E-mail: Agape1@po.jaring.my
Lifeline Association of Malaysia
71-2nd Floor, Jin Jejaka 2, 55100 Taman Maluri, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-9282 1995 (Monday to Friday, 7pm-10pm)
Dropzone (Open to those between 13 and 20 years of age)
No. 92A, First Floor, Jalan Othman 1/14, 46000 Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7782 7448 (Monday to Friday, 11am-6pm. Closed on weekends) - Your local doctor (GP)
A General Practitioner (GP) is a doctor you can make an appointment to see if you’ve got a health problem. - Counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists
What is a counsellor?
A counsellor is a person who has been professionally trained to talk you through a variety of problems. Issues you might discuss with a counsellor include:- building up your confidence
- bullying
- family and relationship issues
- school/work problems
- troubles with alcohol or drugs.
If necessary, a counsellor might refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist who can help you with your specific problems.What is a psychologist?
Psychologists are health professionals who provide ‘talking therapies’ (psychotherapy) to treat mental health problems. The therapy they use may include changing some of the things you do, or the negative ways you think, so that you can feel better. Therapy may also improve your communication skills and how you get on with people.Some examples of why you might see a psychologist include:- eating disorders
- family and relationship problems
- upsetting events
- extreme fears
- anxiety
- panic attacks
- depression
- sleep difficulties
- stress.
What is a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health problems. They are able to treat illnesses such as depression, severe anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with both talking therapies and medication, if necessary. - Youth community services
Learn about the range of community-based services available.There is a range of community-based services available including:- community health centres
- psychologists
- psychiatrists
- youth health services
- accommodation support services
- youth development officers and many more.
You may like to contact your local council for a list of help services available to young people in your area.Some of the services available may include: - Education support services
Schools, universities, and alternative education centres often have their own help services such as counsellors, chaplains and nurses. - Your local hospital or health centre nearest to you.
Besides seek for help from the counselor, psychologist and psychiatrist, I think the depressed patient also must get help from the God. Depression is a mental and soul problem, so they must communicate directly with the Creator through the prayer.
ReplyDeleteYa, you're right. Therapies and medications could help, but most of our problems actually come from within ourselves. Therefore, the most effective way to cope with or stay away from depression is actually seeking help from religious or spiritual sources. We have to be strong and stay strong always in term of our mental and spiritual aspects!
ReplyDeletebesides that,the youngsters who are depressed also can share their problems with others who have a close reationship with them.For example,their parents,friends,teachers and so on..
ReplyDeleteYa, I agree with you, Doris. Youngsters can share happiness and joy with their peer, yet sometimes they are just so scared to share problems with others. Actually sharing will make one feel better. In this way, indirectly, depression would be dragged far far away from them. The question is, for youngsters, who is the best one to share their problems with? For me, I think teenagers should expecially share their problems with their parents. Though as Asians, we're culturally inherited to feel shy sharing problems with parents, we can actually get very useful feedback and advices from the parents regarding to the particular problem or issue. On the other hand, parents can also know what their children are currently doing. This would definitely decrease the possibility for youngsters to get depression.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it is better when the youth share their problem with their best friend.
ReplyDeleteMost of the youngsters nowaday are spend more time together with their friends as compare to their parents. So, it is easy for them story everything especially about their problem to their friends. Besides that, some of the teenagers are stay far away from their famiy. They meet their parents during holiday only.But, they can meet their friends everyday. It is better when they share their problems with friends..
I agree with Azrai.In my opinion sharing our promblem with our god will make our heart feel relax.In Islam,pray and reading Al-Quran is one of the way to avoid depression.By reading Al-Quran,its make our heart feel very relax and feel our problems were solve.Thats why we must alwyays pray to our god.
ReplyDelete