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Depression
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Learn the signs, symptoms, and how it is diagnosed and treated.
Format: Multimedia e-learning lesson
Overview
Understanding Major Depressive Disorder
In this detailed overview you can read about the symptoms of depression, how it is assessed and diagnosed, as well as treatment options, and questions to ask your health care team.
What is major depressive disorder?
Major depressive disorder is a serious medical illness. It’s more than just a feeling of being sad or “blue” for a few days. The symptoms persist and interfere with your everyday life. It can cause severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. It is an illness that can affect anyone—regardless of age, race, income, culture, or education. It is more common in women and often begins in teens and young adults. There are effective treatments for depression, including talk therapy, antidepressants, or both.
To learn more about major depressive disorder read our detailed overview.
Curated Resources
Helpful Links and Resources
Expert-selected websites and documents related to depression.
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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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Health info about depression in older adults from CAMH.
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Mood Disorders Association of Ontario
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FAQ about depression.
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Patient and Family Guide to Depression Treatment
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Based on the CANMAT 2016 Clinical Guidelines, this PDF provides an overview of treatment options.
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Mood Disorders Society of Canada
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Booklet with an easy-to-understand description of depression.
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BounceBack
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BounceBack is a free program from the CMHA that helps you build skills to improve your mental health.
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Find Canadian Mental Health Association
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Find CMHA in your area.
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Health Quality Ontario Patient Reference Guide
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HQO Quality Standard patient reference guide for major depression.
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Learn More
Explore the Depression Topic
Symptoms of Depression
To learn more about the signs and symptoms of depression read through our detailed overview.
Symptoms OverviewDiagnosis of Depression
The assessment of depression involves a thorough history, physical exam, and other tests - including the potential use of standardized screening tools. It's important to rule out a medical condition or other cause of the symptoms.
Diagnosis OverviewTreatments
There are a range of different treatments for major depression, including psychotherapy like CBT and medications.
Treatments OverviewStay up to date
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