Overview
Everyone occasionally feels sad or down, but these feelings are usually fleeting, and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better. The good news is that depression, even in the most severe cases, is a highly treatable disorder.
Screening
You may be wondering if you are experiencing symptoms of depression. One way to determine that is to take a brief, confidential and anonymous screening. Only you will be able to see the results, and the results not are stored or sent anywhere. You can choose to print a copy of the results for your own records, or to give to your physician or a mental health professional.
Articles & Fact Sheets
What is Major Depression?: A VA Fact Sheet providing information on basic facts, symptoms, treatments, and information for families (2015).
Depression After Brain Injury: A guide for patients and their caregivers from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Depression: A detailed booklet with information on symptoms, causes, treatments, getting help and coping (2007).
Depression (Easy to Read): An easy-to-read booklet that explains what depression is, how long it lasts, and how to get help.
Older Adults and Depression: A brief statistical fact sheet on depression and suicide in older adults, includes information on treatments and suicide prevention.