Health advice

Anxiety and depression

Resources and information to help people with anxiety and depression, as well as general support with mental wellbeing

If you are in crisis or need urgent mental health support, get help now from the NHS. If someone's life is at risk, for example they've seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose, go to A&E or call 999. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one.
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It's normal to feel anxious or down sometimes

Most people feel this way from time to time. Talk to your GP if you're worried at all about how you've been feeling. There's treatment and support available to help you.

What's anxiety?

Most people feel anxious or scared sometimes, but anxiety can become a mental health problem if it’s affecting your ability to live your life as you’d like to.

What's depression?

Some general symptoms of a low mood will usually go away after a few days or weeks. Depression is a period of low mood that lasts for weeks or months and affects your daily life.

What if I need help now?

If you need urgent support or want to talk to someone straight away, there are a range of free, confidential mental health helplines available.

Find contact options including phone, text, email and online chat services through Heads Together and Rethink Mental Illness. You can also contact the Samaritans.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

There are lots of different symptoms of anxiety. Some might be symptoms you can feel physically, others you may feel mentally or you could notice some changes in your behaviour.

Read more
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What are the symptoms of depression?

Some general symptoms of a low mood will usually go away after a few days or weeks. If you’re still feeling low after two weeks or longer, it could be a symptom of depression.

Read more
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Can you help us improve our health information?

We want our health information to be as useful as possible. That's why we're looking to you for feedback.

If you're interested in helping, email us at content@well.co.uk.

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Where can I get further support and information?

Anxiety UK
Information and support, including a helpline and text service, for anyone affected by anxiety.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Information about counselling and a directory of registered therapists in your area.

Heads Together
A collection of charity partners offering confidential mental health helplines and online support services, including specific support options for men, young people, parents and veterans.

Mind
Information and support for people affected by anxiety or depression, including an information helpline and online support community.

NHS 111 Wales
Information about mental health, including a list of local services for people who live in Wales.

NHS website
Information about mental health, including anxiety and depression.

Rethink mental illness
Mental health support options if you need urgent help now, or are looking for support services in your local area.

Samaritans
Free, confidential support 24 hours a day, for anyone in need of support.

References
  1. Anxiety and panic attacks. Accessed March 23, 2021. https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/about-anxiety/
  2. Overview - Clinical depression. nhs.uk. Published February 15, 2021. Accessed March 19, 2021.https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/clinical-depression/overview https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/clinical-depression/overview
  3. Get help with anxiety, fear or panic. nhs.uk. Published February 2, 2021. Accessed March 23, 2021.https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/anxiety-fear-panic/
  4. Get help with low mood, sadness or depression. nhs.uk. Published February 2, 2021. Accessed March 23, 2021.https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/low-mood-sadness-depression/

Published: October 2022
Next review: October 2025
Reviewed by: Mital Thakrar, Pharmacist

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