What to Do If You Think You Have Depression: First Steps to Care
Author: Angela Bogdanova · Published: October 8, 2026 · Editorial Policy
Research cluster: Depression & Depressive Disorders · Written by Artificial Sapiens
If you think you may have depression, contact a qualified health care professional to discuss what has changed. A primary care clinician is a practical first point of contact, and a licensed mental health professional is another. You can ask for an evaluation before you know what diagnosis, if any, explains your symptoms. Depression can affect mood, interest, energy, sleep, thinking, relationships, and your ability to manage ordinary responsibilities. Persistent symptoms deserve attention even when you continue going to work or school. National Institute of Mental Health · NIMH finding mental health care.
This article explains the entire help-seeking pathway in the United States, beginning with deciding how urgently you need care, arranging an appointment, describing symptoms, understanding the first assessment, choosing among initial care options, navigating cost and access, and agreeing on follow-up. It distinguishes depressed mood, depressive symptoms, a positive screen, a major depressive episode, and a clinician's diagnosis. For formal assessment criteria and differential diagnosis, see Depression Diagnosis: What a Clinical Evaluation Includes.
I. Decide First Whether You Need Emergency or Crisis Help
Immediate safety determines the care setting. If you have taken an overdose, have seriously injured yourself, are in imminent danger of acting on suicidal thoughts, or have another life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 in the United States or go to the nearest emergency department. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, a mental health crisis, or intense emotional distress, you can call or text 988 or use the 988 Lifeline chat. These U.S. services operate around the clock; elsewhere, use the emergency and crisis services available in your country. NIMH finding mental health care · 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Tell a clinician or crisis counselor about thoughts of dying, wanting not to wake up, feeling that others would be better off without you, planning self-harm, or fearing you may lose control. An urgent assessment may be appropriate even if you are uncertain whether you will act on such thoughts. If you feel unsafe alone, tell someone trusted who can help you connect with professional services and remain with you while appropriate assistance is arranged. Crisis support is a route to immediate evaluation, not an online diagnostic test. NIMH finding mental health care.
Other warning signs also call for a faster response than an ordinary appointment: severe inability to eat or drink, prolonged inability to care for basic needs, rapidly worsening confusion, hallucinations or fixed false beliefs, or sudden periods of unusually high energy and very little need for sleep accompanied by marked agitation, impulsivity, or dangerous behavior. Clinicians must consider severe depression, psychotic symptoms, mania, intoxication or withdrawal, and physical illness. Tell the appointment service these symptoms explicitly so the person can direct you to urgent care. NICE depression guideline NG222 · NIMH bipolar disorder guidance.
II. Know When to Seek an Evaluation
1. You do not have to wait two weeks to ask for help
At least two weeks of symptoms is an important duration criterion when clinicians assess a major depressive episode. It is never a mandatory waiting period before seeking professional assistance. Contact a professional earlier if symptoms intensify, undermine your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, or care for yourself, or make you worried about safety. Symptoms that continue most days for two weeks or more, especially low mood or a marked loss of interest, make a depression assessment particularly important. National Institute of Mental Health · NIMH: Do I need help?.
2. Notice how symptoms affect everyday life
Depression may include sadness, hopelessness, loss of pleasure, guilt, low energy, impaired concentration, sleep or appetite changes, psychomotor changes, irritability, or unexplained physical discomfort. Some people mainly notice numbness, fatigue, and withdrawal. A person may function outwardly while feeling deeply unwell. Expressions such as 'smiling depression' and 'high-functioning depression' describe public impressions of suffering and functioning; they are not independent DSM or ICD diagnoses. National Institute of Mental Health · Depression Symptoms: Emotional, Physical, and Behavioral Signs.
Write down what has changed: Are you withdrawing from conversations? Missing meals or deadlines? Finding ordinary decisions unusually difficult? Sleeping much longer or waking too early? Have hobbies, relationships, and activities stopped feeling rewarding? Do not use the number of checked symptoms as your own diagnostic verdict. Their duration, intensity, context, and functional effects matter together. NICE depression guideline NG222.
3. Life events provide context rather than a complete diagnosis
Stressful events, illness, trauma, bereavement, conflict, and unemployment can accompany emotional distress. Some responses are understandable reactions to circumstances; some may coexist with a depressive disorder. An evaluation considers the full clinical course and alternative explanations. The separate article Depression vs Sadness: How to Understand the Difference examines how sustained clinical symptoms differ from ordinary variations in mood. Other conditions, including persistent depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, require distinct assessment. NICE depression guideline NG222.
III. Choose Where to Seek Help
1. Start with primary care if you are unsure where to go
In the United States, a family physician, internist, primary care nurse practitioner, or physician assistant can be an appropriate first contact. A primary care team can discuss your symptoms, assess urgency, examine physical contributors, review medications, initiate suitable care, and refer to qualified mental health specialists. A visit about fatigue, pain, insomnia, and low mood can include both medical and mental health concerns. Mention your mood concern directly rather than waiting for the clinician to ask. NIMH appointment guidance · NIMH finding mental health care.
2. Direct contact with mental health professionals is another route
Licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, and other credentialed therapists can provide assessment and psychological treatment within their scope of practice. Psychiatrists are physicians who evaluate psychiatric disorders and can prescribe medications. Prescribing authority and referral arrangements vary by professional role and jurisdiction. If you have insurance, check its referral and network requirements; a mental health professional or primary care office can advise what assessment is suitable. NIMH finding mental health care.
3. An integrated care pathway can reduce delays
Some primary care practices offer behavioral health within the same clinic, collaborative care, care management, or referrals coordinated with specialty services. Students may have campus counseling; employees may be able to use an employee assistance program; veterans may have access to VA mental health care; and county or state programs may serve people with limited resources. Ask the clinic or relevant service which options actually exist locally. NIMH finding mental health care · VA/DoD clinical practice guideline.
IV. What to Say When Booking an Appointment
A short, accurate description is enough. You might say: 'I am concerned about possible depression. I have been feeling low and have lost interest in things for several weeks. My sleep and concentration have changed, and I would like an evaluation.' Describe a specific safety concern or marked inability to function immediately if present. You do not need to use psychiatric vocabulary correctly to deserve an appointment.
For an online scheduling form or patient portal, you can write: 'Over the past [number of days or weeks], I have noticed [main changes]. This has affected [work, school, sleep, relationships, or basic tasks]. Could I arrange a visit to discuss possible depression and next steps?' Ask whether there is a primary care or mental health appointment, whether a video visit is appropriate, and whom to contact if symptoms worsen while waiting. NIMH appointment guidance.
If the next opening is far away, ask whether an earlier appointment, cancellation list, urgent assessment, or interim check-in is available. Severe deterioration requires reevaluation of the level of care, even if an ordinary appointment is already booked. People with language, disability-related, sensory, or communication needs can request appropriate interpretation or accommodations when scheduling. NICE depression guideline NG222.
V. Prepare for the First Visit
1. Make a simple timeline of symptoms
Note when changes began, whether they occur most days, and how they affect sleep, appetite, motivation, concentration, physical health, work, home life, and relationships. Describe a typical difficult day and whether there have been brief improvements. For example: 'For six weeks I have slept poorly, felt unusually exhausted, and stopped enjoying activities I used to look forward to. Last week I missed work twice.' A written timeline can help when memory and concentration are affected. NIMH appointment guidance · National Institute of Mental Health.
2. List medications, substances, and physical health concerns
Bring prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, supplements, and information about recent changes. Mention alcohol and drug use, chronic pain, thyroid concerns, sleep problems, recent illness, and relevant reproductive or hormonal changes when applicable. Some medical conditions and medications can resemble or worsen depressive symptoms. Clinicians decide whether an examination or laboratory testing is appropriate based on the presentation; no universal blood test confirms depression. Never stop a prescribed drug based on self-diagnosis. National Institute of Mental Health · NIMH appointment guidance.
3. Include previous mood episodes and family history
Describe earlier depressive episodes, previous diagnoses, hospitalizations, therapy, medication responses, and relevant family mental health history. Specifically mention times when you felt unusually energized or irritable, slept far less without tiredness, had racing thoughts, spoke much more rapidly, or behaved impulsively. Mania or hypomania can suggest a bipolar-spectrum illness rather than a unipolar depressive disorder, changing medication and monitoring decisions. Antidepressant monotherapy may worsen manic symptoms in some people with bipolar illness. NIMH bipolar disorder guidance · NICE depression guideline NG222.
4. Write down a few questions
Ask: 'What diagnoses are possible?' 'Could a physical health issue or medication be contributing?' 'Which treatment options match my symptoms and preferences?' 'What are the likely benefits, side effects, and alternatives?' 'How soon should I return?' 'What should I do if symptoms worsen?' You may bring a trusted friend or relative to help with transportation or note-taking if you want their involvement. You can also ask to speak privately. NIMH appointment guidance.
VI. What Happens During a Depression Evaluation
A clinician typically asks about symptoms and functioning, when changes began, previous experiences, physical and mental health, medications, substance use, psychosocial stressors, family history, and current safety. They may assess whether anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, bipolar mood changes, psychosis, or another disorder better explains some of the presentation. The evaluation may take one visit or more than one, depending on complexity and urgency. NICE depression guideline NG222 · VA/DoD clinical practice guideline.
You may complete a screening questionnaire, sometimes including the PHQ-9. A screening scale summarizes responses about a particular period and can help track symptom change, but it does not independently diagnose major depressive disorder or rule out medical and psychiatric alternatives. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidance emphasizes that positive adult screens should lead to further diagnostic evaluation and appropriate evidence-based care. The dedicated Depression Screening: What a Positive Questionnaire Result Means article explains what to make of a result. USPSTF adult depression screening recommendation.
A major depressive episode involves an appropriate symptom constellation and duration, typically at least two weeks with low mood or loss of interest and additional relevant symptoms. Major depressive disorder has further diagnostic requirements, including review of previous mania or hypomania and alternative explanations. Persistent depressive disorder, depressive symptoms below a full diagnostic threshold, adjustment-related symptoms, bipolar depression, and other conditions can produce different conclusions. The separate Depression Diagnosis: What a Clinical Evaluation Includes guide provides a detailed account of clinical criteria and distinctions. National Institute of Mental Health.
Physical examination or laboratory tests may be indicated to explore specific possibilities such as thyroid dysfunction or another medical condition. A clinician may discuss a working diagnosis, recommend follow-up, refer to a specialist, begin treatment, or recommend urgent evaluation. The practical objective is an accurate assessment and an actionable plan rather than obtaining a particular label during the first visit. National Institute of Mental Health · NICE depression guideline NG222.
VII. How Initial Treatment Decisions Are Made
1. Care is tailored to severity, preferences, and context
Initial management can include evidence-based psychotherapy, medication, a combination, guided self-help, and coordination with practical supports. NICE guidance recommends discussing less intensive evidence-based options for less severe adult depression and generally not routinely offering antidepressants first-line unless they are the person's informed preference. More severe depression can call for combination treatment, specialist involvement, and closer monitoring. A clinician should also consider past treatment responses, coexisting conditions, safety, and what the patient can realistically access. NICE depression guideline NG222 · National Institute of Mental Health.
2. Ask how psychotherapy would work
Cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, and interpersonal psychotherapy are among the psychological approaches studied for depression. Different approaches address behavior, avoidance, patterns of thinking, interpersonal difficulties, and re-engagement with rewarding or meaningful activities. Ask how many sessions are anticipated, what happens between sessions, which outcomes will be monitored, whether the therapist treats depressive disorders, and what options exist if appointments are difficult to attend. For detailed treatment comparisons, see Depression Treatment: Therapy, Medication, and Other Options. NICE depression guideline NG222.
3. If medication is discussed, request a clear monitoring plan
Ask what benefits are expected, how symptoms and side effects will be monitored, possible interactions, and when to seek advice after starting a prescription. Age, pregnancy considerations, prior mania or hypomania, previous responses, coexisting illness, and suicide-related risk can materially affect the plan. Effects may emerge over several weeks, and prompt review is important when treatment begins or safety concerns arise. Prescribing is a medical decision based on clinical evaluation. NICE depression guideline NG222 · NIMH bipolar disorder guidance.
If you already take an antidepressant and believe it is ineffective or causing problems, contact the prescriber. Sudden interruption or rapid reduction can cause withdrawal symptoms, sometimes including dizziness, altered sensations, sleep disruption, anxiety, and low mood. Tapering schedules depend on the medication, duration of treatment, symptoms, and shared clinical decisions. Do not abruptly stop or change the dose on your own. NICE depression guideline NG222.
4. Advanced interventions belong to specialist evaluation
Electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, ketamine, and esketamine are distinct interventions whose appropriateness depends on diagnosis, illness severity, treatment response, medical considerations, availability, and regulatory requirements. These are not first-step self-treatment options. Severe psychotic depression or life-threatening incapacity can require rapid specialist intervention. The comprehensive Depression Treatment: Therapy, Medication, and Other Options article covers depression-specific treatment pathways and advanced options. NICE depression guideline NG222 · VA/DoD clinical practice guideline.
VIII. What to Do While Waiting
Keep the planned appointment, and tell someone you trust if you would like support with attending. Aim for regular food and fluid intake, a consistent sleep and wake routine, and a small amount of manageable activity appropriate to your health. You might choose one short walk, a brief message to a friend, or a necessary task broken into parts. Such actions can support routine and connection, while professional care addresses persistent or more severe symptoms. National Institute of Mental Health · NIMH: Do I need help?.
Low motivation, impaired concentration, and exhaustion can make large self-help plans unrealistic. A useful goal is to lower the burden of getting to care, such as preparing transportation, setting a reminder, and drafting your symptom notes. Social support can help with logistics without requiring you to explain every detail of your private experience. NIMH appointment guidance.
Avoid using alcohol or recreational drugs as a way to manage distress; discuss substance use openly with the clinician. Do not borrow prescription drugs or change your prescribed medications without professional advice. If a new symptom creates a safety concern, use urgent services instead of waiting for the calendar appointment. National Institute of Mental Health.
An online mental health checklist, peer community, meditation app, or general-purpose AI chatbot can be useful for collecting questions or receiving basic encouragement, but none independently provides a medical diagnosis, emergency care, or the continuous clinical accountability of a qualified service. Protect sensitive personal information when using digital tools. Professional assessment remains the decision point for treatment.
IX. Find Affordable and Accessible Care
If insured, search your health plan's directory and verify that providers are currently accepting patients. Ask about copays, deductibles, referral requirements, covered telehealth visits, and whether primary care-based behavioral health is available. Directory listings can be out of date; confirm with the actual clinic. NIMH finding mental health care.
If cost or coverage is a barrier, ask a community health center, county behavioral health department, state mental health agency, or nearby training clinic about public programs and sliding-fee options. The federal FindTreatment.gov locator can identify treatment facilities. SAMHSA National Helpline provides free confidential treatment referral information at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Eligibility, cost, and waiting times differ by service and locality. NIMH finding mental health care.
When the first therapist cannot take a new patient, ask for another referral, join a cancellation list if feasible, and arrange interim primary care follow-up. Remote visits may expand access when clinically suitable; confirm licensing, privacy, and any need for in-person examination. If daily functioning or safety deteriorates while you wait, seek reassessment of urgency. NIMH finding mental health care.
X. Make the First Appointment End with a Plan
Before the visit ends, clarify the working assessment, the treatment or referral offered, who is responsible for next steps, when follow-up should occur, and which symptoms should trigger an earlier call or urgent care. Ask for written instructions if remembering details is difficult. Shared decisions should account for benefits, harms, personal preferences, medical history, practical access, and what the patient hopes treatment will improve. NICE depression guideline NG222.
Follow-up may include discussion of functioning, sleep, interest, activity, safety, adverse effects, and symptom questionnaires used alongside clinical judgment. Useful goals might include attending classes again, maintaining basic self-care, reconnecting with someone, or regaining concentration. A change in a numerical score can help monitor progress but cannot describe recovery on its own. USPSTF adult depression screening recommendation · NICE depression guideline NG222.
If treatment seems ineffective, causes intolerable effects, or coincides with worsening symptoms, contact the clinician. Sometimes more time is appropriate; in other cases the diagnosis, adherence, dosage, therapy fit, barriers, coexisting conditions, or level of care need review. Collaborative care models can coordinate primary care, care management, and specialist input. VA/DoD clinical practice guideline · NICE depression guideline NG222.
XI. Special Circumstances
1. Adolescents and children
Children and teenagers can show irritability, social withdrawal, school decline, physical complaints, or loss of interest as well as sadness. A pediatrician, family physician, or child and adolescent mental health professional can assess developmental context, family and school factors, confidentiality, and safety. The USPSTF recommends screening for major depressive disorder in adolescents aged 12 to 18; children and teenagers who have concerning symptoms need clinical assessment regardless of routine screening schedules. USPSTF adolescent depression screening recommendation · National Institute of Mental Health.
2. Pregnancy and the postpartum period
Pregnancy and the months after childbirth involve distinctive mental and physical health considerations. Contact an obstetric, primary care, or perinatal mental health professional when depressive symptoms emerge. Clinical evaluation should consider safety, medical and reproductive factors, and pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific treatment decisions. Severe changes or psychotic symptoms require urgent care. USPSTF adult depression screening recommendation · National Institute of Mental Health.
3. Older adults and people with chronic physical illness
Older adults may notice fatigue, memory and concentration difficulties, pain, reduced activity, or emotional flatness. Chronic illness and certain medications can overlap with or complicate depressive symptoms. Assessment should consider medical conditions, medication effects, functional change, and the person's own report. Family support may be valuable when invited by the patient. NIMH chronic disease and depression · National Institute of Mental Health.
4. Co-occurring anxiety, trauma, and bipolar symptoms
Anxiety disorders and depression often coexist, and trauma may influence symptoms and treatment needs. Prior manic or hypomanic episodes are especially important because they redirect assessment toward bipolar disorders and affect medication decisions. The English Hub separately examines Anxiety and Depression: Why They Commonly Co-Occur and Childhood Trauma and Depression: Risk, Mechanisms, and Treatment as related, independently owned topics. NIMH bipolar disorder guidance.
XII. Problems That Commonly Delay Help
Trying to prove a diagnosis before making an appointment often delays the evaluation meant to resolve the uncertainty. A symptom questionnaire or an online narrative can prompt an assessment, but neither supplies a definitive diagnosis. Describe what you actually experience, including medical changes, sleep patterns, substance use, past elevated moods, and impact on daily life. National Institute of Mental Health · USPSTF adult depression screening recommendation.
Another delay is assuming that holding a job, smiling in public, or caring for other people excludes clinically important depression. Outward functioning is one dimension of the assessment. The opposite error is interpreting every period of sadness as a disorder. Duration, associated symptoms, distress, impairment, differential diagnosis, and safety belong together. National Institute of Mental Health · Depression vs Sadness: How to Understand the Difference.
Canceling a visit because one morning feels better, hiding suicidal thoughts out of fear, withholding drug use or previous manic-like periods, borrowing antidepressants, or abruptly stopping prescribed medication can interfere with sound care. Explain concerns directly and ask what to do rather than improvising a treatment change. NIMH appointment guidance · NICE depression guideline NG222.
XIII. Your First-Week Action Plan
1. Today: identify the concern and assess safety
Write down the most important changes in mood, interest, energy, sleep, or functioning. Consider whether there is immediate danger, suicidal thinking, psychotic symptoms, or inability to care for basic needs. In the United States, call 911 for life-threatening emergencies and call or text 988 for crisis counseling. Arrange support from someone trusted if helpful. NIMH finding mental health care.
2. Next working day: request an evaluation
Contact a primary care clinic or a suitable licensed mental health professional. Say how long the changes have continued and how they affect ordinary activities. Ask how soon you can be seen and how to escalate concerns while waiting. If you have no provider, use NIMH finding mental health care and FindTreatment.gov to identify appropriate services.
3. Before the appointment: bring short notes
Prepare a timeline, a medication list, a brief account of previous mood episodes, important medical issues, and your questions. Mention any periods of unusually elevated energy, reduced need for sleep, or suicidal thinking. A concise account is more useful than trying to guess your own psychiatric diagnosis. NIMH appointment guidance.
4. At the appointment: leave with next steps
Ask what assessment was made, what options are available, how follow-up will occur, and whom to contact if symptoms worsen. If a final diagnosis cannot be determined immediately, an interim care and monitoring plan can still be appropriate. NICE depression guideline NG222.
XIV. Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I do if I think I have depression but do not know why?
Arrange an evaluation and describe what has changed. You do not need to identify one cause; clinicians assess symptoms alongside medical, psychological, environmental, and social contributors. National Institute of Mental Health.
2. Can a regular doctor diagnose or treat depression?
Primary care is a suitable starting point in many situations. The clinician can evaluate symptoms, identify potential medical contributors, provide appropriate care, and arrange specialist assessment when needed. NIMH finding mental health care.
3. Does depression always involve sadness?
No. Loss of interest and pleasure is a core feature, and people may describe emptiness, fatigue, irritability, or diminished motivation. Diagnosis depends on the broader clinical picture. National Institute of Mental Health.
4. What if an online test says I have depression?
A positive screening result warrants discussion with a clinician, particularly when symptoms persist or interfere with life. A screening scale is not a stand-alone diagnosis. USPSTF adult depression screening recommendation · Depression Screening: What a Positive Questionnaire Result Means.
5. Should I wait until symptoms have lasted two weeks?
You can ask for help sooner, especially with severe, unusual, worsening, or functionally impairing symptoms. The two-week threshold relates to diagnostic criteria for a major depressive episode. NIMH: Do I need help? · National Institute of Mental Health.
6. Will the first appointment automatically lead to medication?
No. Decisions depend on clinical assessment, severity, safety, preferences, medical history, prior responses, and available psychological treatments. Discuss benefits and harms before deciding. NICE depression guideline NG222.
7. What if I cannot pay for private therapy?
Ask about primary care services, community-based clinics, public behavioral health programs, fee adjustments, insurance options, and FindTreatment.gov. A provider or local support agency can help you establish eligibility. NIMH finding mental health care.
8. What if the first clinician says everything looks normal?
Explain the changes in functioning that still concern you, ask what alternative explanations were considered, request a follow-up plan, and seek another qualified opinion if significant problems persist. Escalate immediately when safety changes. NIMH appointment guidance.
9. Should I tell family or friends?
A trusted person can help you attend appointments, remember instructions, and maintain social contact. You decide whom to include and what to share, within any necessary safety arrangements. National Institute of Mental Health.
10. Is a telehealth visit suitable for possible depression?
Telehealth may be an appropriate route to some mental health assessments and treatments. Whether in-person care is needed depends on symptoms, medical requirements, safety, and the professional's judgment. NIMH finding mental health care.
Conclusion
The first useful response to suspected depression is to obtain a clinical evaluation matched to your level of urgency. Explain the changes in mood, pleasure, energy, sleep, thinking, and daily functioning. Share any thoughts of self-harm or past elevated-mood episodes. Discuss care options and leave with a clear follow-up plan. For most nonemergency concerns, primary care or a qualified mental health professional provides the next step; acute danger calls for immediate emergency or crisis services. National Institute of Mental Health · NIMH finding mental health care.
Related Articles
Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment — comprehensive depression overview.
Depression Symptoms: Emotional, Physical, and Behavioral Signs — emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms.
Depression Diagnosis: What a Clinical Evaluation Includes — clinical assessment and diagnostic distinctions.
Depression Screening: What a Positive Questionnaire Result Means — interpreting a positive screening questionnaire.
Depression Treatment: Therapy, Medication, and Other Options — evidence-based treatment options.
Depression vs Sadness: How to Understand the Difference — depressed mood, sadness, and depressive disorders.
References
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. (2026). 988 Lifeline: crisis counseling and support. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022; reviewed 2026). Depression in adults: treatment and management, NG222. NICE depression guideline NG222.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Understanding the link between chronic disease and depression. NIMH chronic disease and depression.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2025). My mental health: do I need help? NIMH: Do I need help?.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2026). Depression. National Institute of Mental Health.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2026). Help for mental illnesses. NIMH finding mental health care.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Bipolar disorder. NIMH bipolar disorder guidance.
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Tips for talking with a health care provider about your mental health. NIMH appointment guidance.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). FindTreatment.gov. FindTreatment.gov.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). National Helpline. SAMHSA National Helpline.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense. (2022). Management of major depressive disorder: clinical practice guideline. VA/DoD clinical practice guideline.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2022). Depression and suicide risk in children and adolescents: screening. USPSTF adolescent depression screening recommendation.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2023). Depression and suicide risk in adults: screening. USPSTF adult depression screening recommendation.