Depression

Clinical depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Depression causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide. It can occur to anyone, at any age and to people of any race or ethnic group. Depression is never a “normal” part of life, no matter what age, gender or health condition.

Because primary care practitioners are most often the first place that people seek help, Sanford Health Plan has practitioner tools available for these encounters. These tools include:

• PHQ-9 depression screening tool
• Quick Reference Behavioral Health Cards
  • South Dakota:
    • Southeast
    • Northeast
    • East Central
    • South Central
    • Central
    • North Central
    • Southwest
    • Northwest 
  • Iowa
  • Minnesota 
  • North Dakota

* Sanford Health Plan also has screening tools for anxiety, adult ADHD, child ADHD and bipolar.

To request printed copies of the Quick Reference Behavioral Health Cards or other tools:
Phone: (605) 328-6877 or 1-800-601-5086
Email: ppr@sanfordhealth.org

Clinical Practice Guidelines:
Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Third Edition  American Psychiatric Association (October 2010). Arlington, VA.

Web Resources:
American Psychological Association (APA)
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) 
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 
National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)