EVERYONE has bad days. Days when it might have been better to stay in bed.

You know the type, when three bills arrive at once, you manage to drip toothpaste down your clean shirt and your boss decides it's your day to be picked on.
On such days, it seems as though someone, somewhere's conspiring to make things as difficult as possible for you. Then there are the crises of confidence. When the kids are being a nightmare, or when no one phones on a Saturday night. When everyone seems to be moving on, while you're doing the same old thing - day in, day out.

For most of us, such days are a temporary "blip", but for others it's a constant struggle as a result of the debilitating effects of depression. Approximately 20% to 25% of people will have a bout of major depression at some point in their lives and it is set to become the second most common cause of disability worldwide. Figures are very difficult to estimate as many people live with depression without seeking help or being formally diagnosed.

Graham Cox of Depression Alliance Cymru said, "One of the most difficult aspects of depression is actually pinning it down and recognising it as a condition, partly because ups and downs are a normal and healthy part of everyone's life.
So how can you tell when a friend or a member of your family needs a little more than a shoulder to cry on?
Depression Alliance Cymru lists the following common symptoms of depression. As a general rule, if you have experienced four or more of these symptoms, for most of the day nearly every day for more than two weeks, then you should seek help:
° Tiredness and loss of energy;
° Persistent sadness;
° Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem;
° Difficulty concentrating;
° Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable or interesting;
° Undue feelings of guilt or worthlessness;
° Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness;
° Sleeping problems - difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking up much earlier than usual;
° Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends;
° Finding it hard to function at work; college or school

° Loss of appetite;
° Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems;
° Physical aches and pains;
° Thinking about suicide and death;
° Self-harm.
It is important to remember, if a friend or a loved one is suffering from depression, that they cannot help being affected by depression.
You can help by encouraging them to talk and listen to what they are saying.

Doctors can help, as can prescription medicines, and if they are talking about or have attempted suicide, try to reassure them that feeling or thinking that the future is hopeless does not make it so in reality.
If they have suicidal intentions, or have attempted suicide, call in other experts - such as a GP, the emergency services or social services - to help them and you with the situation.

In such cases it is important to reassure them that their life is important to you and to many other people, and that they will feel better once they receive appropriate medical treatment.
However hard it may seem to look after a person who is suicidal, the fact that you are showing you care will have a positive impact.

The good news is that with the correct information, support and medical treatment depression can be overcome.