Employee Resources
Getting Help for Depression
If you think you may have depression, remember that you are not alone. Seek help. Below is a list of steps to consider when seeking help.
- Check your health plan to find out what benefits are available to you. Your employer may have an Employee Assistance Program. These programs should be confidential, are often free or inexpensive, and can be a vital resource for the treatment of depression and other mental health issues.
- Make an appointment and visit a physician or mental health professional. Because of the interaction of depression and other medical conditions, an evaluation by a physician is strongly advisable.
Your healthcare professional will talk with you and evaluate your symptoms, your medical and family history, and stresses to determine an accurate diagnosis and suggest the best treatment for you. You may be prescribed an antidepressant medication, or offered talk therapy, or both. Medications and therapy are highly effective for most people and often the best treatment is a combination of both.
- Make sure you understand the treatment you are offered. Talk regularly with your physician or mental health professional about how you are doing. If you are prescribed medication, talk with your physician about potential side effects and how long it will take to work. If you have concerns about your treatment, talk to your healthcare professional.
- Ask your healthcare professional about ways you can actively participate in your treatment, such as:
- Following your treatment plan and keeping regular appointments with healthcare professionals
- Spending time with people who care about you
- Staying physically active by walking or exercising regularly
- Getting on a regular sleep schedule
- Keeping up your normal work and life routine
- Understanding what triggers or worsens your mood problems
Depression can make it hard to seek help. But taking action now will help you feel better sooner. You are a vital part of your recovery!
Information taken from the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health, Depression Brochure. Click here to download the brochure. We would be happy to send your office fifty brochures, free of charge. Please contact us for more information.