your first visit
When making an appointment, it‘s a good idea to ask for a longer appointment time, so your doctor can complete an assessment and discuss treatment options. Before your visit, it helps to write down the signs and causes of depression you’ve identified for yourself so you can talk about them. It’s important to give your doctor a full picture of what’s happening to you.
reviewing your progress
On a regular basis, your doctor will review your situation and may adjust or change your treatment. If there is no improvement or the depression gets worse, your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or another mental health professional, or sometimes for hospital care.
seeing a psychiatrist
Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist (doctors who specialise in mental health) for further assessment. Psychiatrists can conduct medical tests and prescribe medication to help you deal with the symptoms of depression. They can also recommend the most effective talking therapy (psychological treatment) options to help deal with the underlying factors.
