Depression: signs, treatment, where to get help and which doctor to see
What depression is, the signs to look for, how it is assessed and treated, which professional to see, and where to get help in India any time of day.
Also known as: Clinical depression; Depressive disorder; Dysthymic Disorder; MDD; Major depression; Major depressive disorder and 1 more
Unipolar depression
What depression is
Depression is a common and treatable medical condition that affects mood, thinking, sleep, energy and the body. It is different from ordinary sadness after a disappointment or loss, which usually eases with time. In depression, low mood or a loss of interest lasts most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and makes it harder to work, study, look after a family or enjoy things.
Depression is not a weakness, a lack of willpower or something a person can simply snap out of. It involves changes in how the brain regulates mood, and it responds to treatment. Doctors describe it as mild, moderate or severe, and some people have repeated episodes over their lives. Low mood can also be part of bipolar disorder, in which periods of depression alternate with periods of unusually high mood or energy; this changes the treatment, so it matters to mention it.
Signs and symptoms
- Persistent low mood — feeling sad, empty, irritable or tearful most of the time
- Loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
- Sleep changes — difficulty sleeping, waking very early, or sleeping much more than usual
- Tiredness and low energy, even after rest
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt or hopelessness
- Moving or speaking more slowly, or feeling restless
- Thoughts of death, or of harming or killing yourself
In India, depression often shows up first as physical complaints — headaches, body aches, weakness, stomach upsets or poor sleep — and people may see several doctors for these before anyone asks about mood. If tests keep coming back normal and you still feel unwell, it is worth asking whether depression could be part of the picture.
Causes and who is at risk
Depression usually arises from several factors acting together rather than one cause. It can affect anyone. Your risk is higher if you have:
- A family history of depression or other mental health conditions
- Experienced a loss, relationship breakdown, money worries, unemployment or exam and career pressure
- Long-term stress, loneliness or caring responsibilities without support
- A long-term physical illness such as diabetes, heart disease, thyroid problems or chronic pain
- Recently had a baby — depression after childbirth is common and treatable
- Problems with alcohol or other substances
- Had depression before
How it is assessed
There is no blood test or scan for depression. A doctor makes the diagnosis through a clinical assessment: a conversation about your mood, sleep, appetite, energy, thoughts, daily life, past episodes, family history and any use of alcohol or other substances. They will also ask directly about thoughts of self-harm. Answering honestly helps them keep you safe; asking about it does not put the idea in your head.
Doctors often use a short questionnaire such as the PHQ-9 to measure how severe symptoms are and to track progress over time. A questionnaire supports the assessment but does not replace it. Blood tests, such as a thyroid function test, a blood count and vitamin levels, may be done to look for physical conditions that can cause or worsen low mood.
Which professional to see
You can start with a general physician you trust, who can assess you, treat milder depression and refer you on. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in mental health, can diagnose depression and prescribe medicines. See a psychiatrist if depression is moderate or severe, if you have thoughts of self-harm, if treatment has not helped, or if bipolar disorder is possible.
A clinical psychologist provides structured talking therapies and psychological assessment but does not prescribe. Many people benefit from seeing both. You can find psychiatrists in Bengaluru, clinical psychologists and general physicians on The Doctor Index.
Under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, every person in India has a right to access mental health care and treatment from services run or funded by the government. Government hospitals and district mental health services are an option if private care is not affordable.
Treatment
Depression is treatable, and most people improve. Treatment is matched to severity and to your preferences.
Talking therapies
Psychotherapy is a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression and helps at every level of severity. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps you notice and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour. Behavioural activation, interpersonal therapy and problem-solving therapy are other options with good evidence. Therapy usually involves a set number of regular sessions.
Medicines
Antidepressants are often recommended for moderate or severe depression, usually alongside therapy. Commonly used groups include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as escitalopram, sertraline and fluoxetine, and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). They are not addictive, but they take a few weeks to start working, and side effects such as nausea or disturbed sleep often settle in the first weeks. Your psychiatrist will choose the medicine based on your symptoms, other illnesses and any previous response.
Other treatments
For severe depression that has not responded to other treatment, or when someone is at high risk, a psychiatrist may recommend electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), given under anaesthesia in hospital, or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Regular physical activity, a steady sleep routine, cutting down alcohol and staying connected with people support recovery alongside treatment.
Living with depression and recovery
Recovery often happens gradually, with good days and bad days. Keep your follow-up appointments, especially in the first weeks of a new medicine, when your doctor will check how you are and adjust treatment. Let one or two trusted people know what you are going through. Learn your early warning signs — often poor sleep, withdrawing from people or losing interest — and agree a plan with your doctor for what to do if they return.
If someone close to you is depressed, listen without judging, encourage them to see a doctor, offer to go with them, and take any talk of suicide seriously.
When it is an emergency
Get help immediately — call 112, go to the nearest emergency department, or call Tele-MANAS on 14416 — if you or someone else:
- Is thinking about suicide or has made a plan
- Has harmed themselves or taken an overdose of any medicine
- Says goodbye to people, gives away belongings or talks about being a burden
- Hears voices, holds beliefs that are clearly out of touch with reality, or stops eating and drinking
Thoughts of self-harm are a symptom of a treatable illness, not a failing. If you are with someone at risk, stay with them, remove anything they could use to harm themselves if it is safe to do so, and get help.
Questions to ask at your appointment
- How severe is my depression, and what do you recommend first?
- Would therapy, medicine or both suit me?
- What side effects should I expect, and how long before the medicine works?
- How long will I need treatment, and how will we stop it safely?
- Who do I contact if I feel worse between appointments?
- Could any physical condition or medicine be contributing?
Common questions
Questions people ask
- Are antidepressants addictive?
- Antidepressants are not addictive in the way alcohol or sleeping pills can be, and they do not change your personality. Stopping them suddenly can cause withdrawal-like symptoms, which is why your doctor will reduce them gradually when the time is right.
- Will I have to take medicines all my life?
- Most people take antidepressants for several months after they feel better and then stop gradually with their doctor's help. People who have had several episodes may be advised to continue longer to prevent relapse. Your psychiatrist will discuss what suits you.
- Is a psychiatrist or a psychologist better for depression?
- They do different things. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and can prescribe medicines; a clinical psychologist provides talking therapy. Mild depression may need therapy alone, while moderate or severe depression often benefits from both working together.
- What is Tele-MANAS and is it free?
- Tele-MANAS is a free, round-the-clock government mental health helpline that you can reach by dialling 14416, and you can choose the language you want to speak in. Trained counsellors listen, offer support and can connect you to mental health professionals for further care.
This condition is usually assessed by a psychiatrist. Every profile shows the doctor’s registration and what has been checked.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine — Depression
- World Health Organization — Depressive disorder (depression) fact sheet
- Press Information Bureau, Government of India — Tele-MANAS launched with 24/7 toll-free helpline 14416
- India Code — The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine — Depression — Public-domain health-topic summary
- MedlinePlus Genetics — Depression — Public-domain Genetics summary
Depression: signs, treatment, where to get help and which doctor to see is original text by The Doctor Index; the compiled source draft was used for research. Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999; July 2026 data, CC BY 4.0. This product uses the Human Phenotype Ontology (hp/releases/2026-09-01). Only sources listed for this article apply. Source material has been selected and arranged; HPO definitions are reproduced without alteration. No source organisation endorses this compilation. Köhler S et al. The Human Phenotype Ontology project: linking molecular biology and disease through phenotype data. Nucleic Acids Research 2014;42(D1):D966–D974. doi:10.1093/nar/gkt1026.
General information, not advice about your situation. Errors can be reported through the corrections process. Reference TDI-C-0723.