Why & How to Get Evaluated for Depression

Have you noticed depressive tendencies in yourself? Depression is more than just having a bad mood—it’s a mood disorder for which many people (and veterans in particular) need help with through diagnosis and treatment. The easiest way veterans can receive a diagnosis and treatment for their depression is to start by getting a Mental Health Evaluation.

In this article, we explain:

• Why you should get therapy for depression
• How to get evaluated for depression
• Where you can get a depression evaluation 

How to Get Evaluated for Depression

There are only a few steps to take when receiving an evaluation for depression. Once you have an official diagnosis and your symptoms are identified, you can start receiving care or treatment for your mental health condition and begin to heal.

Step 1: Partner with a Veteran-Focused Provider

To get a service-connected depression diagnosis, it’s important to work with a veteran-friendly doctor near you, or through a telehealth provider such as Telemedica. We will pair you with a licensed mental health professional who specializes in mental health disorders and is familiar with veteran issues—many of the Telemedica providers and staff members are veterans themselves. 

Step 2: Gather Required Medical Evidence

Before getting started with an evaluation, it’s important to gather your medical evidence – i.e., doctor’s notes, VA records, buddy letters, DD214, and any other pertinent records that may be helpful in supporting the severity of your condition.

Step 3: Work with a Psychiatrist or a Licensed Provider

Our psychological team is comprised of psychiatrists (as well as clinical psychologists) and physician assistants who are qualified to provide an evaluation for depression. If you’re seeking out a Mental Health Evaluation through Telemedica, you will log on to a secure, HIPAA complaint, veteran friendly platform from the comfort of your home. Your provider will perform an assessment based on the DSM5 to identify your exact diagnosis. 

The Benefits of Working with Veteran-Friendly Doctors Near You

While many people experience depression at some point in their lives, veterans come with a set of unique life experiences; experiences that people who’ve never served may not fully understand.

Ideally, you’ll want to get your depression evaluation from someone familiar with the issues veterans face. Below are a couple of the most notable benefits of working with a veteran-friendly provider.

More Empathetic and Knowledgeable Care

At Telemedica, we have a large community of mental health professionals located all over the country. Many of them are veterans, military spouses, or active duty themselves, ready to connect and provide the missing link (medical evidence) for your VA disability claim. Additionally, many of our providers are also C&P examiners. 

Veteran-friendly healthcare providers can be more empathetic to your circumstances. They also use VA friendly language, which can bolster your claim and may improve your chances of getting your service-related depression approved for benefits.

Telehealth at Your Convenience

Can’t make it to the doctor’s office? Or can’t find a veteran-friendly doctor near you? We’re more than happy to come to you via telehealth. Our medical professionals are ready to connect through email, phone call, and live video chat to help you get evaluated for depression (or the appropriate mental health diagnosis you need for your claim).

What Other Options Do I Have?

Therapy can help! Ignoring your symptoms of depression, hoping they go away on their own, may feel easier than seeking treatment. But there’s a better way.

Seeking treatment for your depression can lift the fog and help you gain a better perspective on life. 

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions but therapy and medication can help a great deal. 

Here are just some of the benefits of seeking treatment for chronic depression:

• Improve your interactions with others—Therapy can help you connect with your emotions and provide tools for communicating how you feel.
• Learn lifelong coping skills—Therapy doesn’t only help you cope with your depression, it also helps you gain valuable skills to use in all areas of life. For example, therapy can teach you self-acceptance and emotional regulation.
• Instill more control in your life—Taking strides to strengthen your mental health can motivate you to get tasks done and accomplish your goals. 

How to Get Evaluated for Depression: We Can Help!

If you have depression, it’s time to take the first step to access the benefits you deserve to live a healthier life. 

Even if you’ve struggled to get a mental health diagnosis for your condition before, Telemedica’s knowledge of the veteran experience can help! 

Get started today!