As human beings, we all have good days and bad days. For some of us, however, the bad days can outweigh all of the good ones and have a negative impact on our lives. With persistent low mood and depression becoming increasingly common, it is found that 1 in 20 Australians suffers from depression each year.

There is no one cause of depression; rather it is often an interaction between life events and personal factors (e.g. body chemistry/genetics). Depression can be experienced in many different ways with varying symptoms and severity. Some people may find their symptoms occur suddenly or gradually over time, while others may find it to be in response to a difficult life circumstance (e.g. death of a loved one), or entirely unexpected with no apparent reason. When experiencing depression, you may find little pleasure and energy in your everyday life, experience a change in appetite, or find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions. In more extreme cases, you may isolate yourself from others and have limited motivation to get out of bed, go to work, get dress and take care of yourself.

The experience of depression is unique to each, and the therapeutic approach that is best suited for you will depend on your own experience. Psychological therapy for depression can involve teaching skills and techniques to recover energy and positive feelings, as well as help rebuild any areas of your life that may have suffered as a result of your depression (e.g. relationships). Psychological therapy will help you manage depressive thinking, engage in behaviour that is proven to lift mood and help you make any changes necessary to feel good about your life and self. While depression can make people feel hopeless about their future and bring a sense of helplessness, The Avenue Place aims to help you feel more hopeful about your future life beyond depression.