Knowing if you're really "depressed" isn't always easy. The word "depression" has come to mean such a range of feelings from just having a lousy day, through to life-threatening clinical illness.

We all feel fed up, miserable or sad at times - but these feelings don't usually last longer than a week or two. These experiences are a common and probably healthy part of everyday life.

But "clinical" depression describes feelings that are much more powerful and unpleasant than short episodes of unhappiness. Depression can last for months, rather than days or weeks. Suicidal thoughts are common and often frightening. It can be almost impossible to continue with everyday activities.

Being able to know what kind of "depression" applies to you is crucial to working out the kind of help you need. The best way to find out whether you have mild depression or the more serious clinical kind is to check your scores on the PHQ (click here to do so), and then read the notes on this page.