Safety is always a relative concept, but it's certainly safer than using medication. If you're on an antidepressant, though, you shouldn't add this to it. But if you're not on medication, 5-HTP would certainly be something you can try, but you need to know the proper dose, buy from a reputable company, and know that if you were to see a professional who practices natural medicine they would use a combination of things rather than just one thing, including lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, meditation, therapy, and the like, so it wouldn't likely just be one supplement. If you get any side effects from it, stop taking it. For a good overview, though the book is a bit old, read Natural HIghs by Hyla Cass, a psychiatrist at UCLA who uses natural medicine in her practice and teaching. But if you truly don't know much about this stuff, it's best to see a professional who does, such as a naturopath or practitioner of integrated medicine or experienced herbalist. Good luck in your journey.