Speaking to your GP about depression

If you think that you might be depressed, visiting your GP or doctor is an important first step. They can give you information about the condition, discuss various self-help options and, if necessary, prescribe antidepressant medication or suggest psychological therapy.

Your doctor is there to help.  On this page you can find some suggestions to help make the most of your GP appointments

Your doctor will start by discussing your symptoms to make sure that they are not caused by any other illness. They may do some tests just to rule out anything else.

Once it’s established that it’s depression, the action the doctor takes will depend on the severity of your depression and resources available in your area.

Your doctor may:

Suggest self-help options

This might include relaxation, attending a support group, or taking regular exercise.  Read our page on self-help for ways you can help yourself.

It is becoming more common for doctors to also suggest self-help workbooks or computerised self-help. These are effective ways of treating depression. If you think it will help you then ask your doctor about this option.

Refer you for talking therapy

You may also be offered counselling or other forms of psychological therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).  Often you’ll have to go on a waiting list for this. 

Or, depending on your area, you may be referred to new services like the Living Life line which offers therapy over the phone.

Offer antidepressants

If you have moderate or severe depression, your doctor is likely to suggest that you start on antidepressants. If you do start taking medication, you may be asked to go back and see your GP after about a week, just to check that you aren't having any unpleasant side-effects and that the dosage is right.

Refer you to a psychiatrist

If you are severely depressed or if you are not responding to medication your doctor may decide to refer you onto a psychiatrist. This might also involve a change of medication or referral to other services.

Write a sickline

If you are too ill to go to work, college or University your doctor will write you a medical certificate signing you off for a specified time which you can give to your employer, lecturer etc.

Your experience of depression, low mood or anxiety will be unique to you, so it makes sense if you work with your doctor to find out what sort of care and treatment is going to be most helpful. 

Ask if there is a doctor at your surgery who has an interest in depression

When you are making an appointment it might be worth asking if there is a doctor there who has an interest or specific expertise in depression. While this isn’t essential, their knowledge and understanding might be useful.

Write down how you are feeling

It can be really hard to talk about how you are feeling to your doctor, especially if you haven’t really done it before. And it can be hard to remember the details of times when you felt worse if you are now feeling a bit better. Writing it down will help you remember what to say.

You can either show it  to your doctor if you prefer, or use it as prompts when you are describing your symptoms. Things you should include are:

  1. How your mood changes over the day
  2. Whether you feel worse at a certain time of day, eg: in the mornings
  3. How long you have been feeling this way
  4. Any questions that you want to ask your doctor 

Show them your self-test results

You could also take the test on this website and print out your results.  The test - called the PHQ9 - often used by GPs and other health professionals to diagnose depression.   

Ask a friend or relative to come with you

If you’re feeling nervous about going to your appointment, or don’t feel confident that you can talk about it, you might want to take a friend or relative along with you as support. They can also help you remember what the doctor says after the appointment.  

Get time to talk about the important things

Each GP appointment only lasts for around 10 minutes.  Because there isn’t much time it is really important to talk about the most important concerns and symptoms first, so that your doctor has time to address these as a priority.

If you think you need longer, you can ask for a longer appointment.  You will have to do this when you make the appointment, not on the day. You may be asked  to explain why this is necessary so be prepared. 

Don’t bottle things up!

It will really help you and your doctor if you are open and honest about how you are feeling. If it’s been a particularly hard day, then tell them. If you’re feeling distressed talking about things, tell them. If you need to cry, then do it. This is all part of your illness and part of getting help. 

Remember you’re there to talk about YOU!

It’s important to make sure that the discussion with your doctor covers all the important points and concerns you have, and focuses on how YOU are feeling. You’ve taken the courage to go along, so try not to brush things off, or down-play things once you are there. 

Before you leave the room

Check with your doctor what the next steps are, what you should do and when you should go back and see them again.  Make sure you understand any directions for taking medication.  If you have trouble remembering things, write it down.

Keep follow-up appointments

Your doctor will want to make sure that the treatment is working so make sure you go back and see them even if you’re feeling better.

Let your doctor know if you feel worse

Keep your doctor informed if you start feeling worse or if you don’t think the treatment is working so that you can find something that is better suited to you.

Call your doctor if you’ve forgotten what you’ve been told

If you find that you’ve forgotten something that was told to you, ring your GP back and ask them to tell you again. This can be really important if you have been started on medication.

Remember

  1. To prepare. Write down how you are feeling and the times of day when you feel worst. Take this with you.
  2. Be honest and open. Your GP can only work on what you tell them. It’s important to tell them as much as you can.
  3. Become your own expert. Don’t rely on your GP to know everything! Find out as much as you can about depression and what help you might can get locally.
  4. Dont be embarrassed. On average, your doctor will see at least one person with depression, low mood or anxiety each day so they are used to hearing about it.