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Depression

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If you are in crisis, call the Mental Health Crisis Call Line at (585) 275-8686. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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What is Depression?

Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder) is a serious but highly treatable mood disorder.

Sometimes you might feel down, unmotivated, or not quite like yourself. But if this is accompanied by a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed or if your depressed mood lasts more than two weeks, you might be suffering from clinical depression. As a biological/physical illness, it affects a person's body, feelings, thoughts, and behavior.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

Oversleeping or trouble sleeping
Overeating or undereating
Feeling sad, irritable, hopeless, worthless, and/or helpless
A sense of excessive guilt
Difficulty with thinking
Anxiety or restlessness leading to unintended movements (fidgeting, hand-wringing, etc.)
Recurrent thoughts of suicide or death

Once you've had an episode of depression, you’re at risk of having more throughout your life. Left untreated, some types of depression can recur more often and become more serious. Severe depression may include symptoms of catatonia, anxiety, or psychosis.

What Are the Different Types of Depression?

Major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression: symptoms of depression last for at least two weeks and interfere with your ability to function in daily life
Persistent depressive disorder, also known as dysthymia: less severe symptoms of depression lasting for at least two years
Perinatal depression: major depression experienced during pregnancy (also known as prenatal depression) or after delivery (also known as postpartum depression)
Seasonal affective disorder: depression associated with the change of seasons, typically during winter
Depression with symptoms of psychosis: includes symptoms such as delusions (disturbing, false fixed beliefs) or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that others do not see or hear)

UR Medicine's Treatments for Depression

UR Medicine’s Mental Health and Wellness Services offer the latest treatment options to help patients experiencing depression, including:

General Outpatient Services, for adults with conditions including anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. This can include a combination of medications and therapy.
Family Therapy, a program that helps individuals, couples, and families manage depression, anxiety, child behavior problems, family conflict, grief and loss, and the effects of chronic illness or health concerns.
Women’s Mental Health Services, to address women’s health concerns including abuse or trauma, depression, anxiety, and pregnancy and postpartum adjustment.
Strong Ties Community Support Clinic, serving adults coping with severe and persistent mental illness, including depression. This outpatient clinic offers services such as group therapy, medication management, an onsite pharmacy, and satellite laboratory services.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), for people with severe or recurrent depression. It is very low risk, and brief anesthesia is used to make it comfortable.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy, for treatment-resistant depression. This non-invasive technique applies magnetic pulses to certain areas of the brain. TMS stimulates neuro-pathways involving depression and regulating mood.
Medicine in Psychiatry (MIPS), providing primary medical care services to adults 18 and older who may be receiving mental health and/or substance abuse services within our health system.

No one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay; a discounted/sliding fee schedule is available.

Our services are staffed by a multidisciplinary team of providers, including:

Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Psychiatric nurse practitioners
Psychiatric social workers
Marriage and family therapists
Mental health counselors
Certified alcohol and substance abuse counselors
Activities therapists
Certified group therapists
Care managers

What Sets Us Apart?

Since its inception in 1945, UR Medicine's Department of Psychiatry – one of the first of its kind – has remained at the forefront of psychiatric medicine and care. We were the birthplace of the biopsychosocial model of health and illness that serves as the cornerstone of education and training of students and trainees across the field of psychiatry.

We remain true to our mission of delivering outstanding patient-centered care, conducting breakthrough research and training the next generation of psychiatric clinicians, researchers and teachers. Whether on an inpatient or outpatient basis, we're dedicated to working with patients to decrease psychiatric symptoms, improve coping abilities, and assist in achieving personal goals.