Smiling on the outside
Many people we meet in Utah are very good at looking okay. They show up to work, to church, to every soccer game and recital. Inside, they feel tired, flat, or like they are letting everyone down. Depression does not care how hard you try. It is a health condition that affects energy, sleep, and the way you think, and it gets better with the right care.
Moms and dads with big families often feel they have no room to be sick. Young adults far from home at the U or BYU may feel alone in a crowd. Whatever your situation, you deserve help that is private, respectful, and real.
Common signs of depression
- Waking up dreading the day, even on weekends
- Losing interest in the mountains, hobbies, or friends
- Feeling slow, heavy, or too tired to do simple tasks
- Pulling away from family or ward activities
- Sleeping a lot more or a lot less than usual
- Feeling like a burden, or having thoughts of death
If these have lasted two weeks or longer, please reach out.
A careful evaluation
Your provider will ask about your mood, sleep, appetite, and history, and may use the PHQ-9, a short questionnaire, to track how you are doing over time. We also ask about past periods of very high energy, because bipolar disorder can look like depression and is treated differently. Thyroid problems, low B12, and some medicines can also lower mood, so we may suggest lab work as part of a psychiatric evaluation.
Medication options explained simply
Most people start with one daily medicine. Common choices include sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, duloxetine, and bupropion. Each has its own strengths: bupropion may give more energy and rarely causes weight gain, while mirtazapine can help if you cannot sleep or eat. Antidepressants usually take four to eight weeks to reach full effect. Your provider will check in, adjust the dose, and switch medicines if needed.
Do not stop an antidepressant suddenly, even when you feel better. Staying on it for several months after you recover helps keep depression from coming back.
After a new baby
Many Utah families welcome new babies, and depression after birth is common and treatable. Signs include constant sadness, anxiety, or feeling unable to bond with your baby. In 2023 the FDA approved zuranolone, a short course of pills made for postpartum depression, and other medicines can be safe while breastfeeding. Tell your provider if you are pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy so they can choose safely.
Teens and young adults
We see teens 15 and older. Signs in teens can look like anger, falling grades, or quitting activities. Antidepressants help many teens, and we watch closely in the first weeks because these medicines carry a warning about suicidal thoughts in people under 25. Students can also use the SafeUT app any time.
Tools that lower the guesswork
If several medicines have failed, GeneSight testing can show how your genes may affect certain antidepressants. Our medication management visits keep your plan on track.
How family and friends can help
If someone you love seems depressed, you do not need perfect words. Sit with them. Say, "I have noticed you seem worn down lately, and I care about you." Offer to help with the practical stuff: watching the kids during an appointment, driving them, or making the call together. Avoid telling them to just pray more, think positive, or try harder. Most people with depression are already trying very hard.
If they mention wanting to die, take it seriously. Stay with them and call or text 988 together.
Depression in winter
Short days and long inversions can drag mood down from November to February. If you notice a pattern of low energy, overeating, and oversleeping every winter, tell your provider. Bupropion XL is FDA-approved to help prevent seasonal depression, and morning light from a light box can help some people. Getting up to the mountains above the inversion on a clear day does not hurt, either.
Help is close
We have offices in Salt Lake City at 222 S Main St and in Provo at 180 N University Ave. In an emergency, dial 911 or reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by call or text. When you are ready, become a patient. No referral is needed.
Why Choose Beehive Behavioral Health?
- Providers across Salt Lake City, Provo, and the Wasatch Front who actually listen and take their time
- Now accepting new patients because waiting makes everything harder
- We accept most major insurance — and work with you on costs
- A practice that treats you like a person, not a number