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Depressed moods

Have you been feeling listless and/or depressed for some time? Would you like to talk about your emotional state? We at the Universities of Bern Counselling Centre will support you in recognising difficult phases as such, in understanding them and in overcoming them.

Overview

Unpleasant feelings – such as sadness and doubt – help us to process what we have experienced. Low moods are also part of our lives to a certain extent. It is not uncommon for these to occur, for example, during processes of change, personal conflicts, feelings of loneliness, situations of being overburdened or other difficulties in studies or at work.

We only speak of a depressive episode when we feel significantly less joy and interest in our activities or are depressed, melancholy and hopeless for a prolonged period (at least two weeks). And when we also suffer consistently from some of the following symptoms:

  • difficulty concentrating and remembering things
  • tiredness, listlessness
  • reduced self-esteem
  • feelings of guilt
  • difficulty making decisions
  • altered appetite
  • difficulty sleeping
  • recurring thoughts of death/suicide

Try to talk to someone close to you about your feelings and symptoms and accept support and help. 

Click here for a self-test (in German) from the  «Berner Bündnis gegen Depressionen» (Bern Alliance against Depression).

  • Important: A depression can only be diagnosed by a specialist. 

What can I do to prevent depression?

Keep up social contacts, get out into the fresh air every day and make sure you exercise – just ten minutes a day has a positive effect on our mood.

You can also strengthen your resilience (psychological resistance) by writing down three things/experiences every evening that you have found positive or for which you are grateful.

Also be sure to follow the link below to our webpage «Strengthen your well-being». Here you can learn, for example, how mindfulness and meditation can be very effective against depressive moods or how you can generally find a good work-life balance and relaxation in everyday life.

Stress too can play a role in the development of depressive moods or reinforce an already existing negative mood. So please take a look at our webpage with tips on how to successfully cope with stress.

  • Strengthen your well-being (overview)

  • Avoiding stress

Counselling and support

  • You are welcome to contact us for an initial counselling session.
  • Our counselling services are free of charge and confidential for students and employees of the University of Bern, the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the Bern University of Teacher Education. 

Videos on the topic (in German)

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