Depression is very common, affecting more than one in 5 people in Australia in their lifetime. Get answers to commonly asked questions about depression.
depression
Mental illness: available treatments
Find out which health care professionals treat mental illness and about the variety of different treatments available.
Grief
Few of us will get through life without having the intensely painful experience known as grief. Grief is a very complex process, which produces a wide range of differing emotions.
Seasonal affective disorder
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression striking in the autumn and winter months. Symptoms include difficulty waking up, extreme tiredness and lack of energy.
ADHD treatments
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatments include behaviour management strategies for parents and teachers, psychological therapies and medicines.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can be useful in treating depression but have the potential for serious side effects and interactions with other medicines, plus certain foods and drinks.
Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors for depression
Venlafaxine, duloxetine and desvenlafaxine are medicines called serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). They are used to treat depression and some anxiety disorders and nerve pain.
St John’s wort
St John's wort is a herb used as a complementary medicine, often in the treatment of depression. Find out about its uses, side effects and interactions.
Tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants (also called tricyclics or TCAs) are named for their chemical structure (3 rings). They can be used to treat depression, anxiety disorders and chronic pain.
Video: Antidepressants work, but some better than others
A large analysis has found 21 different antidepressants to be better than a placebo (dummy treatment), however side-effects meant they were stopped more often than placebo.
