Your healthcare professional will able to diagnose whether you are suffering from depression and its severity (mild, moderate, or severe) and he or she will be able to advise you on the best treatment approach. The goals of the treatment of depression include treating the symptoms as well as addressing the psychological, social, and physical issues that may have contributed to its development.

In order to assist you in finding the best approach to treatment your healthcare professional may refer you to a mental health specialist like a psychiatrist, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. Your healthcare professional is more likely to refer you to a mental health specialist if your depression is severe, if you are expressing suicidality, if you experience a relapse, or if you need specialized treatments such as psychotherapy. He or she might also refer you if your depression is part of another mental illness such as bipolar disorder, or if its not clear whether your symptoms represent depression.

The two most common approaches to treating depression are psychological treatments and medications. If depression is mild, psychological treatment alone may improve symptoms. However, in most cases a combination of therapy and medication is recommended. Exercise and relaxation therapies, for example, yoga, Tai chi, and meditation will be also helpful in recovering from depression.

original