Look after your body
Try to keep active. Regular exercise helps stop people getting depression, and can also improve symptoms.
If you smoke, try to stop. Smoking can increase your risk of having depression and anxiety. Quitting smoking reduces depression, anxiety and stress, and improves your mood and quality of life.
Avoid illegal drugs – they can cause depression or make it worse and stop you recovering.
If you use alcohol, drink sensibly. Heavy drinking makes it harder to get over depression.
Try to get enough sleep. Unhealthy sleeping patterns can bring on depression or make it worse.
Get regular health check-ups and screening tests to help you look after your physical health.
More about managing your physical health
Get the most out of your treatment
When you and your doctor have found the medication and dose that works best for you, keep taking it – don’t skip doses or give up.
It's very important that you attend all of your appointments.
Involve your family
Your partner or family can help you stay well, and can help you make the best choices when you have symptoms.
If you want them to, your health-care team can include your partner or family when providing information and making decisions.
Self-help groups
Self-help groups can help you get support and information.
People in groups can benefit from each other’s experiences. They are also an opportunity to make new friends.
The friendly support you get from your self-help group reminds you that you are not alone – other people have mental illnesses and are coping with many of the same problems as you.