To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• How long have you had suicidal thoughts?
• How often do you think about committing suicide?
• What was going on in your life when you first noticed the depressed or suicidal feelings?
• Have you ever had similar thoughts in the past? If so, did you seek and receive treatment?
• Have you attempted suicide in the past? If so, did you seek and receive treatment?
• Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental health problem, such as severe anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia?
• Has a family member or close friend ever attempted or committed suicide?
• Has anyone in your family ever been diagnosed with a mental health problem, such as depression or schizophrenia?
• Have you had a recent stressful event in your life?
• Do you keep firearms in your home?
• Are you a regular or heavy user of alcohol or illegal drugs? Have you used alcohol or illegal drugs to reduce symptoms of depression?
• Are you taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine? If so, make a list of your medicines and take it with you.
• Are you taking a medicine to treat depression? What is the medicine? When did you start the medicine?
• Do you have any health risks?