While Nobody actually knows what causes depression there are multiple factors that can lead that can lead to depression like a combination of recent and long term factors and personal ones.

Life Events

Research suggests that long term hardships – unemployment, living in a bad relationship or loneliness, prolonged work stress – are more likely to cause depression than recent life stresses. However, recent events (such as getting fired) or a combination of events can ‘trigger’ depression if you’re already at risk because of previous bad experiences or personal factors

Personal Factors

• Family history – Depression can run in families and some people will be at an increased genetic risk. However, having a parent or close relative with depression doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have the same experience. Life circumstances and other personal factors are still likely to have an important influence.
• Personality – Some people may be more at risk of depression because of their personality, particularly if they have a tendency to worry a lot, have low self-esteem, are perfectionists, are sensitive to personal criticism, or are self-critical and negative.
• Serious medical illness – The stress and worry of coping with a serious illness can lead to depression, especially if you’re dealing with long-term management and/or chronic pain.
• Drug and alcohol use – Drug and alcohol use can both lead to and result from depression. Many people with depression also have drug and alcohol problems. Over 500,000 Australians will experience depression and a substance use disorder at the same time, at some point in their lives.

What can I do to help?

If you know someone with depression there are many things you can all to help such as:

Get them to seek support the local GP, Psychiatrist or Psychologist can be a massive help

Beyond Blue have a online counselling service who are always ready to talk

What causes anxiety? 

An anxiety condition isn’t developed or caused by a single factor but a combination of things.Many factors can increase you risk of getting anxiety, including personality factors, difficult life experiences and physical health. 

Family history of mental health conditions

Some people who experience anxiety conditions may have a genetic predisposition towards anxiety and these conditions can sometimes run in a family. However, having a parent or close relative experience anxiety or other mental health condition doesn’t mean you’ll automatically develop anxiety. 

Personality factors

Research suggests that people with certain personality traits are more likely to have anxiety. For example, children who are perfectionists, easily flustered, timid, inhibited, lack self-esteem or want to control everything, sometimes develop anxiety during childhood, adolescence or as adults.

Ongoing stressful events

Anxiety conditions may develop because of one or more stressful life events. Common triggers include:

• work stress or job change
• change in living arrangements
• pregnancy and giving birth
• family and relationship problems
• major emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event
• verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma
• death or loss of a loved one.

Physical health problems

Chronic physical illness can also contribute to anxiety conditions or impact on the treatment of either the anxiety or the physical illness itself. Common chronic conditions associated with anxiety conditions include:

• diabetes
• asthma
• hypertension and heart disease

Some physical conditions can mimic anxiety conditions, like an overactive thyroid. It can be useful to see a doctor and be assessed to determine whether there may be a medical cause for your feelings of anxiety.

What can I do to help?

If you know someone with anxiety there are many things you can all to help such as:

Get them to seek support the local GP, Psychiatrist or Psychologist can be a massive help

Beyond Blue have a online counselling service who are always ready to talk