ABSTRACT
Sadness is a natural response to experiences that are upsetting, such as the loss of someone you love. Usually sadness eases over time. Depression is different. Although it is often triggered by stressful life experiences, it can also come from nowhere. It can go on for a long time and impact every aspect of life. Depression is not always easy to spot, and depressed students may behave in ways that are hard to understand and manage. As well as looking blank and/or unhappy, students can be irritable and moody, find very little meaning in anything, be tired all the time, have low self-worth, have occasional angry outbursts, become withdrawn and not look after their basic needs well. It is estimated that one in four young people has mental health problems, and of these 77% experience depression, with girls at twice the risk as boys.
