Why connections to primary care and specialty care doctors matter.

The brain is one of the body’s major organs like the heart, lung, liver or kidney. Just as you would not tell someone to get over a heart attack, high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer, so should you not tell someone to get over depression. Treat signs of depression and threats of suicide as part of a serious illness.

Changes in medications or diet, stress, lifestyle issues, family medical history and genetics or previously undiagnosed medical problems (hearing, thyroid and infections to name just a few) can also impact on a person’s physical and behavioral well-being often causing chemical imbalances and impacting on a person’s ability to cope.

A person who living with health challenges may having difficulty recognizing their own symptoms of depression.

Symptoms including negative thinking, inappropriate behaviors or physical changes, that last two weeks or more, need to be assessed as soon as possible.

Depression is treatable and suicide is preventable but coordinated care among medical and behavioral health specialists is essential.

Professional treatment, coordinated between licensed medical and behavioral health care providers, may not only lessen the severity of depression but may reduce the length of time (duration) a person is depressed and may prevent additional bouts of depression.  Coordinated professional care might also help patients better adhere to care plans.

Offer to go with your loved one seeking professional care. 

Often times, a depressed person is so hopeless and despairing they resist or unable to seek help. Offer to go along. Encourage your family member or friend to give permission for you to speak on their behalf to emergency, primary and behavioral health care providers. Present your list of concerns, observations and all background information.

Your loved one won’t give permission? You still have options.

Under the privacy provisions of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), medical personnel may not be able to talk to you about a loved one or friend but you can tell medical professionals what you know and have observed. Hopefully, your input will help provide direction for emergency assessments, treatment and referrals.

Write a list of concerns, observations, past and current medical issues and health care challenges as well as any thoughts of depression and suicide. Share your concerns with a trusted family member or friend, emergency room personnel, primary health care doctor, health insurance company, behavioral health care provider or social service coordinator.

Professional help is available in every community.

There are many places in the community where people can access treatment and help. Help is available from family doctors, mental health specialists in community mental health agencies or private clinics including BHLink/988, referrals from your health insurance provider and from other health professionals.

Visit our City and Town pages to find resources in your community.