-- Getting Help for Depression --
Getting Help 1

The first step to getting help is to accept that help is needed. The subject of mental illness still makes some people uncomfortable. Many people think that depression is a weakness and may believe, mistakenly, that a depressed person can quickly "snap out of it" or that some people are too old to be helped.

Medical Advice

Once the decision is made to get medical advice, start with the family doctor. The doctor should check to see if there are medical or drug-related reasons for the depression. After a complete exam, the doctor may suggest talking to a mental health specialist. Be aware that some family doctors may not understand depression. They may not be interested in these complaints. Or, they may not know what to do. If your doctor is unable or unwilling to take seriously your concerns about depression, you may want to consult another health care provider who can help.

If a depressed person won't go to a doctor for treatment, relatives or friends can help. They can explain how treatment may help the person feel better. In some cases, when a person can't or won't go to the doctor's office, the doctor or mental health specialist can start by making a phone call. The telephone can't take the place of the personal contact needed for a complete medical checkup, but it can break the ice. Sometimes a home visit can be set up.

Don't avoid getting help because you are afraid of how much treatment might cost. Short-term psychotherapy, with or without medication, will work in many cases. It is often covered by insurance. Also, community mental health centers offer treatment based on a person's ability to pay.
1 National Institute on AgingU. S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health, Age Page, Depression, A Serious But Treatable Illness 1996

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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOURSELF

If you or someone close to you has a physical illness and depression:

• Validate his/her (or your own) feelings. Do not trivialize the complaints. Although it is not unusual for depression to follow a serious illness, the depression is no less a serious disorder, and is deserving of treatment.
• Understand that depression is a frequent component of physical complaints.
• Support the need for treatment of the depression.
• Suggest he/she see their principal physician.
• Suggest psychiatric help as needed.
• Accepting he/she as is.
• Help focus on the positive.
• Suggest activities at which there is a good chance of succeeding.
• Understand anger as a symptom of depression.

Get Involved in a Community Support Program

You should seek out a local support group. Information about local resources can be accessed via community libraries, local hospitals, health departments, and the Internet.

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Signs and Symptoms of Depression
The Causes of Depression

Getting Help for Depression
+ Medical Advice
+ Help Yourself

Treatment Options

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Literature References