Psychological therapy
Therapy can address patterns of thinking and behaviour, avoidance, relationships, stress and self-support skills. The approach should match clinical needs and the person’s goals.
Medical care
A doctor may prescribe antidepressants after considering indications, risks, other medicines and health conditions. Benefits and unwanted effects require review. Do not start, alter or stop medication without medical guidance.
Combined care
For some people, therapy and medication together are appropriate. A combination may be chosen from the outset based on severity, previous experience and preference.
Supporting sleep and daily life
Manageable activity, a steadier routine, supportive contact and reducing alcohol may assist recovery, but these are not reasons to blame someone. Severe depression can make basic actions difficult.
Follow-up and relapse prevention
Care is reviewed using symptoms, functioning, side effects and safety. After improvement, a plan can support recovery and help identify early signs of relapse.
Common questions
For some people, therapy can be the main treatment, particularly for less severe depression.
The choice depends on severity, safety, previous care, coexisting conditions and preference.
A doctor considers medication after a clinical assessment.
Severity, duration, functioning, safety, previous experience and the person’s choice all matter.
The pace of change varies, and different treatments have different timelines.
Agree in advance when progress will be reviewed rather than changing the plan because improvement is not immediate.
Continued support is often recommended to consolidate improvement and reduce relapse risk.
Duration is individual, and medication or therapy changes should be planned with a professional.
An insufficient response means the plan needs review, not that recovery is impossible.
The professional revisits the diagnosis, delivery of treatment, coexisting conditions and other evidence-based options.
Medical sources
This material is based on the clinical sources listed below.