I'm Still Human: Understanding Depression With Kindness (Expanded Edition - 2021)

• 5. Help you to identify the factors that contribute to your
depression.
• 6. Do physical examinations and blood investigations* if
necessary, e.g. a thyroid hormone disorder may contribute
to depression.
• 7. Educate you and your friend or family on depression.
• 8. Ask about your previous treatments for depression.
• 9. Propose a treatment plan – medicines or/and talk therapy.
• 10. May monitor your progress with certain psychological
questionnaires*, e.g. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
& Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7).
*Not all psychiatrists do that or it may not be necessary at times.
This entire session may take up to between 30 minutes to an hour,
depending on how busy the clinic is. Subsequent clinic follow-ups
will usually take a shorter time. Sometimes, more than one session
is required to complete the above-mentioned.
It’s OK for you to cry or break down. Your psychiatrist will know
what to do to support you. Have a good cry and you’re on your way
to recovery. It’s also OK if you’re not clear about your experience –
it’s your psychiatrist’s role to guide you – don’t worry, it’s going to
be fine.
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