Guide
Signs of depression, and when to reach out for help
Everyone has low days. Depression is different: it lingers, it colours most of life, and it can make reaching out feel hard. Knowing the common signs can help you notice when it is time to talk to someone.
Last reviewed 2026-11-04 · By the Ibraluks Foundation team
Education and peer support only. This guide is general information from Ibraluks Foundation. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and Ibraluks Foundation is not a crisis service. For personal care, please talk with a qualified health professional.
If you or someone else may be in danger
US: call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or chat at 988lifeline.org. Sierra Leone: the Ministry of Health mental health line is toll-free on 5116. Anywhere else: findahelpline.com lists free, confidential lines by country. In immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
Common signs people describe
Health bodies such as the World Health Organization and the US National Institute of Mental Health describe depression as a low or empty mood, or a loss of interest and pleasure, lasting most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. People often also notice:
- Changes in sleep: sleeping much more or much less
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Tiredness and low energy, even after rest
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feeling worthless, guilty, or like a burden
- Moving or speaking more slowly, or feeling restless
- Pulling away from friends, family, faith community, or hobbies
- Thoughts of death or of ending one's life
This list is to help you recognise patterns, not to label yourself or anyone else. Only a qualified professional can assess what is going on.
It can look different for different people
Men may show depression as irritability, anger, or more drinking rather than sadness. Teenagers may seem withdrawn, irritable, or suddenly uninterested in school. Older adults may talk more about aches, tiredness, or memory than mood. In many West African families, distress is often described through the body, through spiritual language, or simply as “thinking too much.” All of these are real experiences worth taking seriously.
When to seek help
Consider talking to a doctor, nurse, counsellor, or other qualified professional if low mood has lasted two weeks or more, if it is getting in the way of work, school, or relationships, or if you are using alcohol or other substances to cope. If you are having thoughts of suicide, reach out now: call or text 988 in the US, or use findahelpline.com anywhere else.
Small steps that can help while you get support
- Tell one trusted person how you have really been feeling.
- Keep a simple rhythm: wake time, a meal, a short walk in daylight.
- Notice how screens and feeds affect your mood, and set gentle limits.
- Write down questions to bring to a professional.
These do not replace care, but they can make the next step a little easier.
Depression in the age of AI
Worry about jobs, constant comparison online, and spending more time with screens than people can all weigh on mood. If AI-related change is part of what is pulling you down, our guides on job loss and automation anxiety and loneliness and belonging may help.
Common questions
- How long do signs of depression usually last before it is considered depression?
- Health bodies such as the WHO describe depression as symptoms present most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Only a qualified professional can assess this for an individual.
- Can I tell if someone is depressed just from these signs?
- No. These signs can help you notice that someone may be struggling, but they are not a diagnosis. The kindest step is to check in with care and encourage professional support.
- What should I do if someone mentions suicide?
- Take it seriously, stay with them if you can, and connect them to help. In the US call or text 988; elsewhere use findahelpline.com or your local emergency number.