If you feel like you are struggling or want to help a friend, it’s important to be honest, to seek help, or even just chat to someone who can point you in the right direction. Here are some ways to get good help to feel more positive about life and your circumstances.

1) Understand what's happening

You can’t begin to heal if you don’t know there is something not quite right. The first step then is realising that the ways that you are thinking and feeling are a little out-of-the-ordinary. It’s normal to feel a bit down, sad and angry at times but when these thoughts and feelings persist even while you’re with people you love and doing the things that you enjoy – perhaps then you can ask the question.

2) Tell a person or people you trust

The next step is to be brave and to tell a person or people you trust how you are thinking and feeling. This could be a parent or guardian, a camp leader, sibling or friend or even a teacher, school counsellor or chaplain. If you are feeling low – tell someone so! This could seem a little scary but the nice thing to know is that almost everyone goes through times of feeling down and out.

3) When there is no one you can tell

If there is no one you feel you can trust or tell these things to there are great organisations and people you can talk to. There are even online chat options, helplines you can call and websites with great tips.

If you are feeling unusually down or believe that you have depression or know someone who does you can visit BeyondBlue which has lots of great information.

The Better Health Channel has some helpful pages on worry, stress and other negative emotions that give you tips on how to help yourself or someone you know during these tough stages.

4) Get help

After speaking with a person or people you love and trust, a good thing to do is follow their advice (if you think it is good advise) and get some extra help.  Help for mental health issues can include support, counselling, medication or therapy. Some services and information are especially aimed at young people.

Here are a few organisations that can provide help:

• Headspace – a confidential, free and secure space where young people 12 – 25 or their families can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional
• Kids Helpline – a 24-hour telephone and online counselling service that includes a directory that you can search to find services and places that can help you in your local area – call them on 1800 55 1800
• Reach Out! – offering fact sheets on mental health and stress that provide advice for you or your friends, information about how a therapist may be able to help, and an overview of treatments available
• Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)  – providing information for family members of parents with mental illness

Don’t face this alone! There are so many people who are for you and want to help you out.