Low mood that persists: when should you ask for help?

The World Health Organization describes a depressive episode as low mood or loss of interest for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Other changes can include sleep, appetite, energy or concentration. That description helps explain why duration matters; it does not mean a person must wait two weeks before asking for help or that a web page can diagnose depression.

Think back over recent days. Are ordinary tasks taking much more effort? Have you stopped enjoying time with people or activities you usually value? Is it harder to manage a shift at work, care for family or keep up with study? Write down when you first noticed the change and whether there are good days as well as hard ones.

The NHS advises seeking help if low mood lasts more than two weeks, you are struggling to cope or things you have tried are not helping. You can also seek help sooner when the change is worrying or disrupting daily life. Start with a qualified doctor or mental-health professional at a nearby service. If paying for private care is difficult, ask a local public health facility what support is available.

You might say: ‘For the past few weeks I have felt low most days. I am finding work and family tasks harder, and my sleep has changed.’ A clinician can ask about physical health, medicines, stress and other possible contributors as well as mood. You do not need to decide for yourself whether this is depression before making an appointment.

If you think you may harm yourself, have made a plan or cannot stay safe, seek emergency help now from local emergency services or the nearest emergency department. Tell a trusted person and, if possible, stay with them while arranging help. An online questionnaire is not an emergency service and should not delay care.

If you are safe but unsure how to describe the past two weeks, our nine-question symptoms check can help you organise what you have noticed before a conversation. Its result describes symptom severity; it does not confirm a diagnosis or replace a professional assessment.