The simple thing that's proven to fight depression

With the increasing prevalence of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety in our modern society, plenty of research is being conducted into how these conditions can be prevented and/or treated. While new medications and therapies are constantly being developed and trialled, new research has found evidence for something that most of us already have an inkling about – we’re talking about good friendships.

Researchers from the UK’s University Of Manchester looked at data collected from more than 2000 students who were asked to take a survey relating to depression symptoms along with providing information about their friendships.

They found that the presence of what they termed “healthy mood friends” (i.e. people who don’t suffer from a mental health condition like depression or anxiety) doubled the chances of recovery for those who suffered from the illnesses and halved the chances of the illnesses occurring in the first place.

The optimum number of “healthy mood friends” appears to be between five to 10, a finding supported by previous research which found that high-quality, authentic social relationships lower the risk of developing depression.

The study also helped disprove the idea that depression can be “spread” or “caught” by others who interact regularly with a sufferer.

While making the effort to socialise can be difficult when you’re not feeling well, it’s well worth persisting, especially with friends who understand what you are experiencing and can support you in your recovery.

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