Health Plan of San Joaquin | Focus Your Health | Winter 2019

8 Focus Your Health Feeling down? Get the help you deserve I’ll be okay. I can take care of this by myself. Does that sound like you? Sometimes it’s good to be strong and to do things for yourself. But not when it comes to mental health problems like depression. What is depression? Depression is much more than a low mood. It’s a serious medical condition. Depression can steal the energy from your body and the joy from your life. It can make it hard to get out of bed each morning or care about the things you love. And you deserve better than that. Know this: Depression is treatable. In fact, treatment works for up to 9 out of 10 people who seek help for their depression. How do I know? Symptoms of depression tend to last for at least two weeks. They can include: ● ● Feeling sad or down for a long time ● ● Losing interest in your usual activities ● ● Feeling tired and out of energy ● ● Feeling empty, worthless or guilty ● ● Sleeping too little or too much ● ● Having trouble thinking or making decisions ● ● Having thoughts of suicide or death If you think you may have depression, tell your provider. He or she can help you get the right type of care. Options can include counseling (talk ther- apy), antidepressant medicines or both. They work very well. Depression hurts those who have it. And it can hurt families and relationships too. But if you have depression, you can feel better—if you ask for help. Make the call As an HPSJ member, you have access to Beacon Health Options. Beacon has a network of doctors and therapists who provide mental health services. Call Beacon at 888.581.7526 to connect to a mental health expert today! For 24/7 support, call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 800.273.TALK (8255) for free and confidential support. If you are taking antidepres- sant medication and would like more information about your prescription, you can speak with an HPSJ pharmacy representative today. Call 888.936.PLAN ( 7526 ). Source: American Psychological Association HealthReach 2057