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Depression

Depression support that meets you where the energy actually is

Depression is not sadness. It is the loss of the machinery that makes anything feel worth doing — including the things that would help.

So the first step here is deliberately small: a two-minute screening, or one conversation. Not a plan.

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  • Free PHQ-9 screening
  • Verified therapists
  • Crisis support built in

What to look for

  • Low mood or emptiness on most days for two weeks or more
  • Losing interest in things that used to matter
  • Sleeping far more or far less than usual
  • Appetite and weight changing without intention
  • Feeling worthless, or that people would be better off without you

How people usually get better

  1. 1

    Screen and get a baseline

    PHQ-9 gives a severity band and, importantly, flags risk. Repeating it monthly is how you see improvement that is too gradual to feel day to day.

  2. 2

    Restart activity before motivation returns

    Behavioural activation — doing small things on a schedule rather than when you feel like it — has strong evidence and does not require you to feel better first.

  3. 3

    Get professional treatment for moderate or severe depression

    Therapy, and for some people medication prescribed by a psychiatrist, are the treatments with the best outcomes. Both work considerably better started early.

If you are having thoughts of ending your life

Please treat that as urgent rather than shameful. Tele-MANAS (14416), iCall, AASRA and Vandrevala are free, confidential and available 24×7 across India.

The crisis button on every Saantvana screen opens those numbers directly. You do not have to be certain about anything to call one.

Supporting someone with depression

Practical help beats advice: a meal, a lift to an appointment, sitting with them while they make a call. Depression makes logistics feel impossible long before it makes conversation impossible.

Avoid 'others have it worse' and 'just go out more'. Both are heard as confirmation that the person is failing at something simple.

Depression: common questions

What does a PHQ-9 score mean?
0-4 minimal, 5-9 mild, 10-14 moderate, 15-19 moderately severe and 20-27 severe. Scores of 10 and above usually warrant a professional conversation. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
How long does treatment take?
Many people notice change within six to eight weeks of consistent therapy. Medication, where prescribed, typically takes two to four weeks to show effect and is reviewed by the prescribing psychiatrist.
Can I get help without telling my family?
Yes. Sessions are booked and paid for by you, records are private to your account, and you can use a pseudonym across the platform.
Is online therapy effective for depression?
Research consistently finds online therapy comparable to in-person therapy for mild to moderate depression. For severe depression, an in-person psychiatric assessment is usually recommended alongside it.

Explore related support on Saantvana

Each link below goes to a specific part of the platform, so you can pick the next step that fits where you are right now.

Take the first step in whichever order suits you

Talk to the companion, take a validated assessment, or book a verified expert. Everything except expert sessions is free, and nothing is shared with your employer or family.

Create a free accountSee how Saantvana works

Saantvana is not a substitute for emergency care. If you are in immediate danger, please use the India crisis helplines listed here, including Tele-MANAS on 14416.