Depression Online Health Center

Overview and Facts

From time to time everyone experiences feelings of sadness, changes in mood and less interest in favorite activities. But when negative feelings, pessimistic thoughts or sleep or appetite problems interfere with daily life for 2 or more weeks, depression could be the cause. Though depression is common (about 1 in 10 people in the general population will develop it at some time in their lives) the good news is that there are many things you can do to keep it from taking over your life.

• Take Control of Depression
• Learn More about Depression
• Hill Physicians Programs & Resources
• Living with Depression
• Support Groups for Depression

	Take Control of Depression
Explore Complementary Approaches to Managing Depression Many people living with depression find complementary approaches such as yoga and guided imagery help enhance the effects of other treatments they are using. These have been shown to calm stressful reactions, support clearer thinking, and promote a more balanced approach to healthy lifestyle choices.   Food and Moods What we eat and drink can help or hinder our ability to concentrate, think clearly and feel good. Small changes in what we use to ‘nourish’ our mind and body can make a big difference in how much natural energy we have available to handle daily life activities and experiences. For more information on nutrition, self-care tips for healthy eating, recipes and staying active, visit our Nutrition and Weight Management Online Health Center. Get Moving – Exercise and Depression Exercise not only increases your physical fitness, it boosts your brain power and may even improve your mood. Research shows that moderate intensity exercise improves brain functions including learning, memory, and mental adaptability. Add a dose of daily exercise to complement and strengthen other depression treatments, such as psychotherapy or medication. As a bonus, many people report decreased stress levels and improved mood immediately following regular exercise. To reap the benefits, start incorporating a moderate exercise routine (for example, a 30-minute daily walk) into your schedule. Download our Tips for Exercising and Staying Active for more ideas. Discounted Yoga Classes for Hill Physicians Members We're pleased to partner with independent yoga instructors to offer Hill Physicians members a 15 percent discount on yoga classes. To find a class near you, contact Member Health Improvement. Listen to a Relaxation Podcast Hill Physicians' relaxation podcasts guide you through exercises to reduce your stress in a convenient audio format. Some podcasts include downloadable tip sheets to help guide you through the podcast and to keep for your reference. To listen and/or download a podcast, visit our podcast page here...  Behavioral Health Services Many of our partner HMO's offer Hill Physicians members behavioral health benefits. Those with these benefits can self-refer for psychiatry, medication treatment and/or psychotherapy services. Call your health plan's behavioral health department to verify your benefits and find a provider in your area. Read more about eligible Hill Member behavioral health services here...  Community Psychiatry Hill Physicians has partnered with Community Psychiatry to assist members with behavioral health needs. Services are covered under most health plan’s behavioral health benefits. Community Psychiatry offers the following services: Managing Your Mood through Mindfulness: an 8-week program to learn and practice techniques in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, a proven method for improving mood and chronic pain. Referrals to psychotherapy providers for those who would like to work individually with a licensed psychologist or mental health therapist to more effectively cope with life challenges. Information and/or evaluation for medication treatment options. For more information or to enroll, contact: Community Psychiatry at (888) 737-7712 Make the Right Depression Treatment Decisions for You You are an important partner in making decisions about your healthcare. There are many factors to consider when choosing a treatment approach that fits your needs. The following guides can help you make an informed decision and focus on what is best for you. Should I take medications to treat depression? Should my child take medications to treat depression? [ back to top ]
	Learn More About Depression
Download our Tip Sheet for Managing Depression Depression is a common medical condition that can include feelings of sadness and hopelessness. This condition is more difficult to overcome than the unhappiness that you may feel from normal disappointments, such as losing someone or something important to you. The good news is that there are many different treatment choices that can help you start feeling better soon. Tips for Managing Depression with Self-care  [ back to top ]
More on Depression We’re proud to partner with Healthwise to deliver the Healthwise Knowledgebase® to you. Whether you have been recently diagnosed or are interested in learning more about depression, these links will give you an overview of depression. General Overviews and Common Causes of Depression Bipolar Disorder Depression in children and teens Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Warning signs of suicide [ back to top ]
Health Assessment Tools  Hill Physicians' private, interactive tool can help assess your symptoms and find out if you might have depression. It calculates how many common symptoms of depression you have through your answers to questions. The tool suggests where you might be on a scale from "not depressed" to "depressed." Although this tool is not for diagnosis, it may help you find out whether you should seek help from your doctor. Are you depressed? Private Depression Assessment Tool
Depression Treatment Options The following are prescription medications and nonprescription herbal supplements (Sam-e and St. John’s Wort) used to treat depression. Medications Atypical antidepressants for depression Medications for post-stroke depression and pain Sam-e Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for childhood and adolescent depression Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression St. John’s Wort Tricyclic (TCAs) and heterocyclic antidepressants for depression Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression [ back to top ]
	Hill Physicians Programs and Resources
Hill Physicians Member Health Improvement Resources Hill Physicians' Member Health Improvement department can connect Hill Physicians members with discounted yoga classes and massage therapists near where you live or work. Our staff also can refer you to depression programs if offered by your health plan. Contact our Member Health Improvement department for more information on these valuable resources. Watch an Emotional Wellness Web Video Hill Physicians’ emotional wellness videos provide helpful ideas on how to create and maintain more physical, emotional and spiritual health. Topics include: Coping in Difficult Times Meditation & Healing 8 Fun Ways to Relieve Stress View our entire video library here... [ back to top ]
	Living with Depression
Hill Physicians is dedicated to providing people with depression and their families the tools for living a healthy, active life. Decision Guides Decision Guides can help you make medical decisions related to depression. Should I take medications to treat depression? Should my child take medications to treat depression? Tracking Your Progress Tracking daily symptoms as well as health habits like sleep and exercise can help you see your progress over time. Sleep Diary Exercise Log Staying Active Exercise not only increases your physical fitness, it boosts your brain power and may even improve your mood. Research shows that moderate intensity exercise improves brain functions including learning, memory, and mental adaptability. Add a dose of daily exercise to complement and strengthen other depression treatments, such as psychotherapy or medication. As a bonus, many people report decreased stress levels and improved mood immediately following regular exercise. To reap the benefits, start incorporating a moderate exercise routine (for example, a 30-minute daily walk) into your schedule. Download our Tips for Exercising and Staying Active for more ideas. Managing Stress Everyone feels stress from time to time. While some stress can be “distressing” some can actually help you become stronger from learning how to effectively deal with challenging situations. Discover our tips designed to help you manage stress and incorporate some “stress-free” time into your busy day. Download Hill Physicians Stress Management Tip Sheet.  [ back to top ]
	Support and Resources
Hill Physicians recommends the following support groups and other resources for those coping with depression.      Depression   Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Depression Screening  National Institute of Mental Health Postpartum Depression   National Women's Health Information Center Postpartum Health Alliance  [ back to top ]

The information provided is meant to aid in your education on health and wellness. Hill Physicians strongly recommends that you seek the advice of a medical professional for medical and/or psychological ailments.