Feeling down, depression & suicidal thoughts
Are you thinking about suicide? If you want to talk anonymously about your suicidal thoughts, visit the website of 113 Suicide Prevention or call 0800-0113.
What is it?
- Feeling down. You feel sad, tired, or empty for a while. You worry a lot. You don’t enjoy things you normally like. Everyone feels down sometimes, and usually it goes away by itself.
- Depression. Depression is when you feel very down for more than two weeks. You have little energy, sleep too much or too little, and enjoy almost nothing. It can make daily life hard. Getting help is important.
- Suicidal thoughts. These are thoughts about not wanting to live anymore. You may think the world is better without you. These thoughts are very heavy. Always talk to someone you trust or ask for help.
What can you do?
- Contact your GP in time. For example, if you sleep badly, feel down all day, have no interest in things, feel tired, feel worthless, or think about death. Your GP can help and refer you to the right support. Fontys student psychologists are happy to think with you. We do not offer long-term therapy, although this is often desirable for these problems.
- Talk about it. You can speak with friends, your partner, your parents, or your student coach. It’s important that you feel safe when you talk. If you want to talk anonymously about suicidal thoughts, visit the website of 113 Suicide Prevention or call 0800-0113.
- Keep a healthy routine. Go to bed and eat at regular times. Be careful with alcohol and drugs.
Unfortunately, difficult periods are part of life. Fortunately, they do not always have to lead to depression. And difficult thoughts do not immediately lead to suicidal thoughts. Think about what gives you positive energy. And realise at all times: you are not your thoughts. Think about when they don't bother you and what you are doing at these times?
Self-learning modules
With your Fontys account, you can make free use of online self-help modules (e-health).
Sadness
Although no one is happy every day, you should not feel sad all the time either. This module can help if you want to do something about your sadness. You can get a grip on your mood by working on your thoughts, anxieties, lifestyle, and relaxation.
Go to the Sadness module
Resilience
Want to build more resilience? This module helps you understand how you react to setbacks and teaches you how to deal with them better in the future.
Go to the Resilience module
Useful links
Contact team Student Guidance
- If feeling down, depression, or suicidal thoughts are affecting your mental well-being, make an appointment with a student psychologist.
- If feeling down, depression, or suicidal thoughts affect your study progress, please book an appointment with a student counsellor.