But after the first few months, not only had he stopped going fishing with his friends, he often did not go out of the house for days. Tom also complained to his wife about not sleeping well and about different aches and pains each day. Fortunately, his wife took him to a doctor who recognized Tom was depressed. After a few weeks of treatment, Tom began to enjoy his retirement as much as he had expected. Mental health specialists include psychiatrists, psychologists, family therapists, and social workers.
Psychiatrists can prescribe antidepressant drugs because they are physicians.
Other mental health specialists, however, often work with physicians to ensure that their patients receive the medications they need. Community mental health centers, which often provide treatment based on the patient's ability to pay, usually have a variety of mental health specialists. Hospitals and university medical schools may have research centers that study and treat depression. If You're Over 65 and Feeling Depressed. The program is based on more than 40 years of research on the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders.