By Riley Guinan, PA-C · Medically reviewed by Sade Savage, PA-C, DMSc
Last updated: July 6, 2026
Key takeaways
- Depression is a common, treatable mood disorder, not ordinary sadness. About 21 million U.S. adults have a major depressive episode in a year.
- You may need a psychiatrist for depression when symptoms persist or start to interfere with daily life. At Zellig, a PA-led psychiatric team, which includes a collaborating psychiatrist, provides that care.
- Depression takes several forms, and most people improve with medication, therapy, or both. Finding the right fit can take an adjustment or two.
- Care runs statewide across Pennsylvania by secure video, with in-person visits near Philadelphia.
- If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline now.
Depression, in one screen
Depression is a mood disorder that changes how you think and sleep, and it lasts. Everyone has low days, but depression settles in for weeks at a time and gets in the way of ordinary life. It is common: an estimated 21 million U.S. adults have at least one major depressive episode in a year, about 8.3% of adults, and it is diagnosed more often in women than men. It is also treatable. This page is the map to how Zellig treats depression across Pennsylvania and how to start. The sections below route you to the right next step, whether you are trying to understand what you are feeling or you are ready to book.
Do you need a psychiatrist for depression?
You may need a psychiatrist for depression when symptoms persist or begin to interfere with work, school, or relationships. That prescriber does not have to be a psychiatrist. At Zellig, a physician associate (PA-C) on a psychiatric team that includes a collaborating psychiatrist handles the evaluation and prescribing. Therapy and medication complement each other.
Here is who does what. A psychiatrist is a physician who diagnoses and prescribes. So does a physician associate, or PA-C, a licensed clinician who prescribes and, at Zellig, leads care within a collaborative practice. Therapists provide talk therapy but do not prescribe. Your primary care doctor can start treatment for straightforward depression and refer out when the picture gets more complicated. A depression psychiatrist is one route in, but the person you actually need is a qualified prescriber who will evaluate you and build a plan with you.
If you want to see who would be in your corner, meet Riley Guinan, PA-C and Sade Savage, PA-C, DMSc. Both are prescribers who treat depression, and they build the plan around your specific situation.
If you’re deciding who to see first, our guide to seeing a psychologist vs. a psychiatrist for depression walks through it, and how long depression usually lasts can help you judge whether it’s time to get help.
Types of depression we treat
Depression is an umbrella over several forms, and telling them apart shapes the plan. Here are the ones we treat, and the one that belongs somewhere else.
| Form of depression | What it looks like | Where to go next |
|---|---|---|
| Major depressive disorder | Low mood or loss of interest most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks or more | The most common form; treated here |
| Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) | Milder low mood that lasts a long time, often two years or more | Treated here |
| Seasonal affective disorder | Depression that follows the seasons, usually starting in late fall or winter | Treated here |
| Postpartum and perinatal depression | Depression during pregnancy or after childbirth, beyond the baby blues | Treated here, coordinated with your other care |
| Bipolar disorder | Low periods that alternate with high-energy, elevated-mood periods | A separate condition, covered on our bipolar disorder page |
That last row matters. Depression that swings into elevated, high-energy periods points toward bipolar disorder, which is treated differently, and starting the wrong medication can make it worse. If your low periods trade off with unusually up ones, read how bipolar disorder differs from depression before you start. A prescriber sorts this out during the evaluation.
Want more detail on a specific type? Read our pages on major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) and postpartum depression, or our guides to melancholic depression, unipolar depression, PDD vs. MDD and anhedonia.
When to seek care for depression
A rough patch and a depressive episode are not the same thing. The line most clinicians use: symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, or any meaningful interference with your work, school, or relationships. Low mood or a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy is usually one of them. If that describes the last couple of weeks, it is worth an evaluation, even if you are not sure it counts.
One situation does not wait. If you are having thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself, that is a reason to get help right now, not to join a booking queue. Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, any time, or call 911 in an emergency. Booking an evaluation is the right move for depression that has been building; a crisis needs immediate support.
How depression is evaluated and treated at Zellig
Care starts with a telehealth psychiatric evaluation: a longer first visit where a prescriber asks about your history and symptoms, and what you want out of treatment. From there you build a plan together. It may be medication, therapy, or both, since national guidelines recommend psychotherapy or a second-generation antidepressant as first-line care, and the two work well in combination. Severity steers the choice: milder depression may respond to therapy alone, while moderate to severe depression usually calls for medication as part of the initial plan.
Two honest points about medication. First, antidepressants usually take four to eight weeks to work, and sleep or appetite often improve before mood does. Second, the first medication is not always the right one, and needing to adjust the dose or switch is normal course-correction, not failure. When someone has not improved after trying at least two antidepressants, that is called treatment-resistant depression, and there are further options worth discussing with your prescriber.
Follow-up is where the fit gets dialed in, and that ongoing prescribing and adjustment is what medication management covers. Early monitoring matters too: because people under 25 can have a short-term rise in suicidal thoughts when starting an antidepressant, the FDA advises watching all patients closely in the first weeks, and we keep a closer eye on teens and young adults at the start. If you are weighing add-on options, our writeups on SAM-e for depression and L-methylfolate for depression go a level deeper than this overview. What we do not do here is hand you a dose to try on your own; that is a prescriber conversation.
Medication questions we cover in depth: Lexapro vs. Zoloft, Prozac vs. Zoloft, buspirone for depression, antidepressants and weight gain and antidepressants in perimenopause.
Online depression care across Pennsylvania
Yes, you can get online psychiatry for depression across Pennsylvania. A telehealth evaluation, prescribing, and follow-up all happen by secure video, and the research shows video care is at least as effective as in-person care for depression. Zellig treats patients statewide this way, with in-person visits available near Philadelphia, on the Main Line in Wayne and in Bucks County.
Online care fits most people looking for depression treatment, and it removes the drive and the waiting room. It has honest limits: an acute crisis or a situation that needs hands-on medical care is not a telehealth visit. For everything in between, online psychiatry in Pennsylvania is a full front door to care.
Frequently asked questions about depression care
Do I see a psychiatrist or a PA at Zellig?
At Zellig you see a physician associate (PA-C) who diagnoses, prescribes, and leads your care within a collaborative practice that includes a psychiatrist. Our PAs carry advanced training and spend longer with you than a typical rushed appointment allows. If your care needs a psychiatrist’s direct input, that collaboration is built into the practice.
Can depression be treated entirely online in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Depression can be evaluated, prescribed for, and followed up entirely online across Pennsylvania. Zellig delivers this care by secure video, and telehealth is an effective way to receive psychotherapy and prescribing. In-person visits are available near Philadelphia if you would rather be seen face to face.
Is depression curable?
Depression is highly treatable, though “cure” is not quite the right word. Most people get better with medication, therapy, or both, but episodes can come back, and treatment adjusts when they do. It is closer to a condition you manage well over time, with care that flexes as your needs change.
How soon can I be seen?
Zellig usually has availability within the week, which is faster than many practices where new-patient waits run months. The quickest way to find out is to start a booking and pick the first open telehealth slot. If your situation is urgent and cannot wait, use the 988 line right away.
Do I need a referral to be seen for depression?
No. You do not need a referral to book a depression evaluation with Zellig. You can schedule a telehealth visit directly, and the prescriber will take your history and start a plan at that first appointment. If another doctor referred you, bring any notes they shared, but a referral is not required to start.
Can a teenager get depression treatment at Zellig?
Yes. Zellig treats patients ages 12 and up, so a teenager can be evaluated and treated for depression, usually with a parent or guardian involved. Because people under 25 can have a short-term rise in suicidal thoughts when starting an antidepressant, the FDA advises close monitoring in the early weeks, which we build into care.
Start depression care in Pennsylvania
You do not have to sort this out alone. Book a telehealth depression evaluation anywhere in Pennsylvania, and a prescriber will help you understand what is going on and build a plan that fits. Most new patients are seen within the week, and the first visit is just a conversation.
This is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your own prescriber about your health and any treatment decisions. Read our editorial policy to see how we source and review this content.