If your symptoms include plans or thoughts about harming yourself or another person, detachment from reality (psychosis), or excessive use of alcohol or drugs, contact your health professional or local hospital for help right away.

Many people with depression delay seeking medical advice and treatment because they believe depression is not serious or they think they can get through it, or even beat it, on their own. Sometimes people who are deeply depressed feel that nothing will help. But like other major health problems, depression cannot be overcome without treatment. In fact, untreated depression can get worse, cause other health problems, and may last for years or even a lifetime. It can have a serious impact on both you and the people you care about.

With treatment such as counseling and medicines, the symptoms of even major depression may begin to improve in a few weeks. The choice to seek evaluation and treatment is a very important first step on the path to feeling better. For more information, see the topic Depression.

Source: PHQ-9 copyright 1999, Pfizer, permission granted. The PHQ-9 assessment is adapted from PRIME MD TODAY and developed by RL Spitzer, JBW Williams, K Kroenke, et al.