Depression
Embrace the whole you.
Mental and physical well-being go hand-in-hand. Don’t let depression stop you from living life to its fullest.
Embrace the whole you.
Mental and physical well-being go hand-in-hand. Don’t let depression stop you from living life to its fullest.
Depression is an illness. It can cause intense emotional and physical symptoms. It affects your total health and well-being. If you’re struggling with depression, you may experience:
Depression can be difficult to recognize–and hard to talk about. Find help. Find hope. Find your words.
Grief is not a type of depression, but its symptoms and treatment can be similar:
Depression can happen alongside other issues and conditions, including:
Learn more about anxiety, chronic illness, and other factors that may contribute to depression.
If you’re 18 or older, you can take this self-assessment quiz. You can also get more information on care and resources. This is not a substitute for talking with your doctor, who can help you with treatment.
Depression is very complex. It involves brain chemicals like serotonin, brain cell connections, and much more. Understanding the science behind depression and its symptoms can often help those who suffer from it.
Watch this video to learn more about what happens in the brain during depression.
Self-care can often make a big difference. If you’re struggling with depression:
Try some apps developed by the Center for Behavioral Health Intervention Technologies, at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. They are free from Google Play, and include:
Kaiser Permanente members have access to digital mental health and wellness tools at no charge. Check out this page for Calm, myStrength, and Ginger apps. You also can call a health coach for subscriptions to Headspace, Whil, SilverCloud, Woebot, or Thrive.
If you feel like you can’t cope, life is very difficult, or your life isn’t worth living, get help now.
For quick attention:
People who live with abuse often struggle with depression. If someone is hurting you, tell your doctor or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE to get help.
As you deal with your depression, a health coach can offer support along with coping strategies.
We encourage you to learn more about our health coaching sessions.
If you’re a Kaiser Permanente Northwest member, you can discuss treatment needs or set up an appointment by calling the Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Department, 1-855-632-8280.