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[Ishmael] Hi… uh, my name’s Ishmael. I wanted to call because

over the past few weeks I’ve been feeling depressed and lonely

I have very few friends and struggle to talk to people

Even when I try to speak to new people over social media I just get ignored

which makes me feel really lonely.

I want to be able to talk to people who want to talk to me and have relationships which I can treasure and enjoy.

I feel stuck and have no idea how to improve my mood.

[Roman] Feeling isolated and lonely doesn’t always mean that you don’t have anyone around you.

You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone.

Now, I’ve been living with depression since I was around 15 years old.

I remember just feeling so down and isolated like I had this dark cloud kind of constantly over my head

and I would wake up and everyday felt like a bad day

It felt like someone had told me some terrible news when they hadn’t.

It felt like I would go ten rounds of Mike Tyson in a boxing ring

And he’s just absolutely battering me and I’ve never learnt how to box before

I don’t have a clue on how to fight back

I got to a point where I became so kind of, withdrawn,

And was spending more time being in a negative headspace

and I didn’t want to see my friends and having mood swings

And I got quite lucky - my mum noticed and booked me an appointment to the doctors

You know, and people often feel embarrassed about admitting how they feel

You know, I did, but the reality is you shouldn’t, you know?

So many young people like you have contacted services for support for your mental health

You know, acknowledging how I was feeling was the first step to helping to feel better and getting the help that I needed.

And that’s the thing, the more we talk about those things, the more we share,

the less we feel alone in dealing with our depression.

I definitely hit a seriously low point a couple of years ago where I started

Questioning my job, if I was good enough, how I looked, if I was a good boyfriend, everything,

and I just completely broke down.

I got super lucky that day that my mum made one phone call and it was straight to me

and I just blurted it all out to her and she just helped me through it

And that’s the thing - when we start to talk about our mental health

We realise that our friends and the people around us, might also be experiencing mental health issues

I know it’s not as easy just to start opening up when you’re in that headspace

And that’s why I think it’s so important that us also, as friends, as siblings, as classmates,

Check in on our mates and ask them ‘are you okay?’ you know, and ask it twice

‘Are you really okay?’

Because the thing is you can feel isolated, lonely or depressed for loads of reasons

there are loads of steps and exercises you can try to help you deal with your depression

And I know our expert Alex is going to share some of those with you as well

[Alex] It is important to remember that although you might feel like the only person

experiencing feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression, you aren’t alone.

Lots of young people experience these feelings for many reasons.

It might be that you find it hard to make friends like Ishmael.

You might be going through some changes such as moving schools or to a new area.

Or have recently experienced the end of a relationship

Whatever your circumstances there are steps you can take to try to reduce the feelings of loneliness

and isolation you might be feeling.

It can be hard to push yourself to try new things but getting creative can really help to express how you are feeling.

Poetry or drawing can be a great way to do this.

Focusing on the positive things about yourself can really help build your self confidence and self-esteem

Try to find one thing that you like about yourself

Could be your hair, your sense of humour, your excellent taste in music, or your football skills

Once you’ve made that start, you can begin to think of more things

And create a positive image of yourself

Having shared interests is a great way of connecting with new people

Whatever you’re into, there are bound to be others who share the same interests

Why not start a hobby that you’ve always wanted to try?

Finding something you really enjoy can be a great way to feel happier and less alone

If you’re feeling low, it’s important that you speak someone you trust about how you feel

Once you start talking, it can feel like a weight has been lifted

And mean that you get the support that you need

[Roman] And it’s just so important to remember that you’re not alone in experiencing

the feelings and emotions that you might be going through right now.

You know, why not try some of the steps our expert, Alex has suggested?

You know that I know when I feel particularly low

I find going out, listening to music, doing some exercise

Can really just help shift that low mood, you know? A little bit of coping exercises

And also, check in on one another. Reach out, ask how someone else is doing

Take it away from yourself - they might be experiencing what you’re going through as well

And you can bond through that.

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about.

And always know that you can tell a friend, a parent, guardian, teacher, another trusted adult, anyone

There’s also lots of links to helpful organisations on the ����ý action line website