Frequently Asked Questions

What is Depression Care Management?

• Depression Care Management is often an employer-funded, and always a confidential program that provides professional and compassionate one-to-one outreach and ongoing support to employees and eligible family members with depression. The program is clinically proven to improve treatment outcomes, to help individuals feel better about themselves, improve their quality of life at home and in the workplace, and be more productive at both.

How can Depression Care Management help me?

• A Depression Care Manager understands the serious problems that depressed individuals face. Because the same treatment does not work for all individuals, a Depression Care Manager supports the individual and his/her healthcare professional so the individual can find the treatment that leads to full recovery.

Does the Depression Care Manager take the place of my personal physician?

• No, a Depression Care Manager works with your personal physician to educate you about depression and its treatment. A Depression Care Manager will provide you a method to monitor how your condition is improving. The Depression Care Manager and physician will discuss your response to treatment to inform any treatment changes your physician may wish to make.

Can I receive Depression Care Management without my employer finding out?

• Yes, Depression Care Management programs are committed to providing patients completely confidential services. To our best knowledge, Depression Care Management programs have never informed a company that an employee was eligible and/or participated in a program. Employers authorize the Depression Care Management vendor to look at claims data to determine which professionals and individuals can benefit from this type of voluntary program, in the same way that they authorize health plans to use claims data to find individuals with diabetes or asthma. Programs never provide employers a list of individuals who were eligible for the program (be it depression, diabetes or asthma). Depression Care Management programs do provide employers a description of the outcomes they achieve for the group of patients they treat, but never for an individual patient. Fearing for your confidentiality is NOT a good reason to avoid participating in a Depression Care Management program!

How does Depression Care Management differ from counseling?

• Depression Care Managers do not provide treatment. They support patient efforts to complete the treatment that will lead to full recovery, whether that treatment is counseling or antidepressant medication, or both.

Is depression an acute disease or is it a chronic disease?

• Scientists have identified genetic contributors to depression, which put some individuals at risk for the disorder. While some individuals have a single episode of depression, 50% have repeated episodes.

Are medications used to treat depression addicting or habit-forming?

• Antidepressant medications are neither addictive nor habit forming. They do not produce a ‘high’ like other addictive medications.
• Rules of Antidepressants:
  -Antidepressants don’t work suddenly. Benefit comes on slowly, may take a few weeks. 
  -Antidepressants only work if you take them everyday. 
  -Antidepressants are not addictive. 
  -Side effects are usually mild and get better with time. 
  -After you feel better, you must continue to take them for at least four months to reduce the risk of depression returning.
  -Call physician before discontinuing use.

If I start on this type of medication, would I have to take it forever?

• You and your healthcare professional should discuss this question. Individuals with certain risk factors who have had two or more previous episodes are generally encouraged to take antidepressant medication on an ongoing basis.

How can I get Depression Care Management if my employer doesn't include it in my health benefits?

• Several vendors provide Depression Care Management to individuals whose employers do not include the benefit as part of the employee’s health benefits. These vendors are noted in our Depression Care Management Vendors Chart. Individuals pay the vendor directly.