Depression in Adults (update)—Clinician Infographic

Home Tools & Resources Depression in Adults (update)—Clinician Infographic
PDF Version
Colour PDF

 Back

Is systematic screening for depression with questionnaires in primary care beneficial? 

Depression has a negative effect on people’s emotions, thoughts and well-being. 

Screening for depression in adults 

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against routine screening for depression using standardized tools, such as questionnaires with a cut off, in all adults aged 18+. 

This guideline applies to adults at normal and higher risk of depression (e.g. childhood trauma, family history) 

Why? 

  • The evidence shows that screening every adult for depression with a questionnaire has little or no effect on health 

This guideline is not for adults with: 

  • A history of depression 
  • Current depression 
  • Symptoms of depression or other mental health disorder 


What does this mean for clinicians? 

Ask patients about their mental health and well-being as part of usual care 

Practice good clinical judgement to detect potential depression 

Don’t use a standardized tool to screen every patient 

Be vigilant for depression 

Use clinical judgment to decide on further steps 

Usual care vs. screening for depression 

Usual care Screening 
  • Asks about mental health and well-being regularly
  • Conversation-based
  • Questions asked in usual care are not screening
  • Uses a medical test or tool (e.g. questionnaire with cut off score) to find people at risk of a disease or health problem 
  • Is done with every adult 
  • Is for people without symptoms 

Depression facts 

  • Lifetime prevalence: 10% in people without bipolar disorders 
  • Depression has increased in Canadians aged 15 + since 2012 
  • People with childhood trauma, chronic disease, who are Indigenous, LGBTQ2+ or with substance use disorders at higher risk 
  • Depression is often diagnosed, managed, and treated in primary care 

Takeaway: 

  • Be vigilant and ask about the mental health of patients regularly 
  • Don’t use a questionnaire with a cutoff score to detect depression 
  • Use all clinical information to make a mental health assessment 

Mental health resources