Improving depression care, preventing suicide

More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have depression and other mental health problems. That is one reason why at Allina Medical Clinic we ask our patients with mental health concerns certain questions.

When we know what your depression looks like, we can help.

What to expect at your next clinic visit

If you might have depression, have been diagnosed with it, or are taking depression medicine, your health care provider will give you a questionnaire called the PHQ-9.

You will be asked if any of these none problems have bothered you over the last two weeks:

• little pleasure in doing things
• feeling down, depressed or hopeless
• trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or sleeping too much
• feeling tired or having little energy
• eating too little or too much
• feeling bad about yourself – that you are a failure or have let yourself or others down
• trouble concentrating
• moving or speaking too slowly or feeling more fidgety and restless than usual
• thoughts of death or of hurting yourself

Your answers will help determine if you are feeling better and if any changes should be made to your care plan. They will also help us track your progress.