Depression


Need mental health help? Dial 988 for free confidential help from the National Suicide Lifeline. Call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. 

Staying healthy includes taking care of both your body and your mind. Depression is more common than you may think, and it can affect children, teens, and adults. There are many things you can do to start to feel better.

What is depression?
Depression is a medical illness that affects mood, thought, behavior and general health. Depression involves feeling sad, discouraged, or hopeless for weeks, months, or longer.

What causes depression?
Depression occurs when the chemicals in the brain are out of balance, but there is no single cause for depression. There are many factors that can cause a person to develop depression, such as:

  • Having blood relatives who have had depression
  • Changes in family and/or personal life
  • Bullying or a difficult social environment
  • Traumatic or stressful life events
  • Changes in hormones
  • Taking certain medications. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about whether your medications might be making you feel depressed.
  • Having a medical problem such as cancer, stroke, or chronic pain
  • Using alcohol or drugs

What are symptoms of depression?

  • Changes in sleep: You sleep more or less than normal.
  • Changes in eating habits: You eat more or less than normal. You may gain or lose weight.
  • Poor focus: You cannot make decisions or finish reading a short article.
  • Loss of energy: You cannot complete daily tasks.
  • Lack of interest: You lose interest in doing things that you once enjoyed.
  • Low self-esteem: You think a lot about past failures.
  • Feeling guilty or hopeless: You think your life will never get better.
  • Changes in movement: You move slowly or frantically.
  • Thoughts of death: You often think of death or harming yourself. If you are having thoughts of death, or need someone to talk to, please contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call-text-chat), open 24-hours, or call 911.

 

Can I get better?
Yes! Medicine and “talk therapy” can help your depression. You and your provider can work together to find other things to help you get better.

Who suffers from depression?
Anyone can suffer from depression. It is a serious illness requiring treatment. If you think you may have depression, talk to your provider. You can get help and feel better.

Click here to learn more about depression, possible treatment, and support. 

Resources

  • Molina My Health – Living with Depression
    For adult members aged 18 and older who either have a diagnosis of depression or may be having symptoms of depression. The program is designed to promote early identification of symptoms, provide education, guidance, and support, while teaching life coping skills, and sharing available services, treatment options, and community support. For more information on this program and more, please call our Health Management Department at (866) 891-2320 (TTY/TDD: 711).
     
  • Molina allows 90-day refills on certain medications. Please talk with your provider about getting a 90-day prescription for your antidepressant medication. Getting a 90-day prescription fill means fewer trips to the pharmacy.

  • Molina also offers mail order pharmacy services through CVS (800) 875-0867 or CVS.com, where your prescriptions can be mailed directly to your home.

  • Pyx Health App (help with loneliness and anxiety)
    A combination of a comforting app and compassionate staff offers 24/7 support for loneliness and anxiety. Download the Pyx Health app, or visit HiPyx.com, or call (855) 499-4777 (TTY: 711).

  • Visit the following pages to learn more about depression, possible treatment or therapies, and support towards feeling better:

 

Molina Help Finder
This is your one-stop shop for finding low-and-no-cost resources to meet your basic needs like food, housing, job training, childcare and more! Find services near you using our online search tool at MolinaHelpFinder.com. 

Transportation
Nonemergency transportation for medical and behavioral appointments is available for Apple Health (Medicaid) members. For more information, visit:  HCA.WA.Gov/Transportation-Help.