The encouraging news is that there is a range of treatments, health professionals and
services available to help with depression, and there are many things that people with
depression can do to help themselves.
Different types of depression require different types of treatment.
For moderate to more severe depression, psychological and/or medical treatments
are likely to be required. Often, a combination of treatments is most useful. For example,
psychological treatments (e.g. talking therapies) improve people’s coping skills so they
feel more able to deal with life’s stresses and conflicts. Psychological treatments may also
help to prevent relapse once the person is well again. Medication has a physical effect,
changing the brain’s chemicals. When these two treatments are combined, they can tackle
the symptoms of moderate to severe depression successfully.