Are you ill?

It is important to decide whether you are just sad or whether you are suffering from depression.

For example, it is appropriate to be sad or to grieve the death of a friend or relative.  This is a normal reaction to a circumstance and should not be confused with depression. Sadness and grief are usually temporary and not associated with major changes to your daily life and routines. With time, grief subsides and normal life resumes. If grief is ongoing and affects your life in a way that it renders you incapable of performing your daily routines, then it is very important to seek help from a doctor.

Important realisations about depresion:

 • Depression is an illness
 • You cannot "pull yourself together"
 • It is not something to be ashamed about
 • Depression can be treated/managed
 • If you think you are depressed, you must seek help from a doctor