In its most mild form depression can mean just being in low spirits –– but at its most severe depression can be life-threatening.

But help is at hand for those people who do suffer from depression as Chad's annual cause for 2008, Central Notts MIND, supports individuals who are feeling down and enables them to beat the illness before it takes hold.

There are various specific forms of depression, including Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), postnatal depression and manic depression, which can be caused by a number of factors such as the death of someone close, a major life change or simply moving from one phase of life into another.

All age groups can be affected by depression and it is important to take symptoms seriously and not dismiss them as an inevitable part of growing up or growing old.

By recognising and treating symptoms and getting help it is possible to overcome depression and prevent it returning.

But one complication with the disorder is that people do not always realise they are suffering from it because the condition shows up in many different ways.

Symptoms include feeling restless, agitated, tired, putting on or losing weight, physical aches and pains, using more tobacco and alcohol than usual and lacking in self-confidence and esteem.

But there are ways to tackle depression and the key to overcoming the disorder is fighting negative attitudes by replacing them with constructive activity.

Other ways for people to defeat depression include attending self-help groups or talking to friends and relatives about how they are feeling and how they can get better.

Individuals who feel they may be suffering from depression are encouraged to drop into one of Central Notts MIND's activity centres in Mansfield, Sutton or Kirkby to see how the charity can help them overcome the disorder.

•Anyone interested in becoming a Central Notts MIND volunteer or trustee or who would like to organise a charity event or make a donation to Central Notts MIND should contact Girish Ravat on Mansfield 658044.