How To Seek Help If You're Suffering From Depression Or Anxiety

While numerous stigmas still surround mental health, a large number of adults live with serious, often debilitating conditions ranging from depression to anxiety. Many times these show no clear outward signs or symptoms, and people regularly opt to struggle privately without seeking help or treatment.

However, mental wellness is every bit as important as physical health, and it deserves the same level of care and attention. Banner Health offers a diverse variety of behavioral health treatment options, providing safe, compassionate and completely confidential care from their experienced team of mental health professionals.

Gagan Singh, M.D., is the Chief Medical Officer of Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. He shares some practical and important information on where to seek help and how to manage the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

---

---

Start With Your Primary Care Provider

According to Dr. Singh, the vast majority of people seek help for depression and anxiety in a primary care setting. Many of Banner Health's primary clinics have a "total care team" which includes behavioral health professionals dedicated to assisting primary care doctors in the management of patients with depression and anxiety.

---

Find a Primary Care Provider Near You

---

Manage The Symptoms

If symptoms of depression or anxiety are causing you to feel hopeless or getting in the way of your ability to function normally, Dr. Singh recommends seeking help from your primary care provider, a therapist or a psychiatrist. If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, you should seek help immediately.

For managing day-to-day symptoms of depression and anxiety, Dr. Singh suggests patients:

• Follow the recommendations provided by their doctor or therapist.
• Eat well, get enough sleep and exercise daily.
• Avoid things like drugs and alcohol that can worsen the condition.
• Stay connected with others; feeling isolated can worsen depression.
• Seek out ways to find meaning and a sense of purpose.
• Challenge their thinking. Try and imagine what advice they would give a friend in a similar situation.
• If spirituality or religion is important to them, connect to a higher power through whatever means works individually.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression and anxiety symptoms. You are certainly not alone, and Banner Health is here to help.

---

Find a Banner Health Provider Near You

---

Get Specialized Treatment

Patients with more severe depression and anxiety can seek care from Banner Health and Banner-University Medicine's psychiatry clinics in Peoria, Phoenix and Tucson. Behavioral and mental health outpatient clinics at Banner Health provide the following treatments and services:

• Adult and teen intensive outpatient mental health services.
• Counseling and psychotherapy (group, family, couples and individual therapy).
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
• Education and support.
• Grief, hospice, ALANON and other support groups.
• Medication.
• Stress management skills.
• ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy).
• TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).

For those needing the highest level of care, Banner Health hospitals in Scottsdale, Sun City West, Glendale, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, offer inpatient behavioral and mental health servicesfor adults and teens. These behavioral health facilities treat most mental health conditions in minimally restrictive hospital settings, and some even offer alternative therapies, such as music and pet therapy.

---

Learn More About Banner Health's Behavioral & Mental Health Services

---

More from Banner Health:

• This Is How Stress Impacts Your Health
• Banner Health's Latest Innovation Simplifies Patient Health Care
• How To Stress Less When It Comes To Keeping Your Family Healthy