The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that mood disorders such as depression affect more than 20 million American adults each year. Most people who seek treatment recover from an episode of depression, according to the Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders. Health-care professionals stand ready to provide immediate help when the symptoms of depression become devastating or incapacitating, or when depression gives way to thoughts of suicide or harm.
Step 1
Call a crisis hot line, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, which is available toll-free 24 hours a day. A trained professional will answer the phone, ready to offer advice and an empathetic ear. A professional can help by simply listening, by providing support and by identifying an immediate course of action, such as where to go locally for emergency services.
Step 2
Go to a hospital emergency room, walk-in clinic, community crisis center or counseling center--often available on college campuses at no or reduced cost to students. These sites employ health-care professionals such as doctors, psychiatrists and mental health counselors who are qualified to provide immediate help for depression or suicidal thoughts. They can provide support and conduct assessments to determine a path for recovery. They may recommend checking in to an inpatient mental health facility or an appointment for urgent treatment, such as antidepressant medication or talk therapy.
Step 3
Heed the treatment recommendations. Research, such as a 2004 article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has shown that antidepressant medication and talk therapy can be effective in treating depression.
Step 4
Establish and maintain a support network of health professionals, family and friends. Keep all professionals involved abreast of treatments and progress. Primary care physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists or counselors will want to know what has happened, and they can be valuable resources for future treatment. The best care will come from having a support system of informed helpers.
Step 5
Re-evaluate the treatments on a regular basis. Many factors can affect the outcome of treatment for depression, such as the relationship between the patient and the practitioner, according to a 1991 article published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. Communicate concerns and questions to the practitioner. Many roads can lead to recovery--such as different antidepressant medications or different kinds of talk therapy--so don’t give up. Remember that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
- "Clinical Handbook of Psychological Disorders" Fourth Edition; David Barlow, Ph.D.; 2008
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Fluoxetine, Cognitive-behavioral Therapy, and Their Combination for Adolescents With Depression
- “Journal of Counseling Psychology”; Relation Between a Working Alliance and Outcome in Psychotherapy: A Meta Analysis
