Notice lasting changes in mood
Not ratedgeneral health evidence
Recognise when sadness, irritability or lost interest needs a conversation about help.
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Ask yourself: has my mood or enjoyment changed from usual? Then pick the person you could tell.
5 minutes
Note what changed, when it began and one example of how it affects everyday life.
15 minutes
Use those examples to request a conversation with a health professional for yourself or your child.
How sure the science is
Not rated, general health evidence
- No pooled trials to rate.
- This rests on single studies, expert consensus or clinical practice.
- Measured in the general population.
- ADHD trials of this do not exist or are too small.
General NIMH and CDC symptom-recognition guidance, with NIMH evidence that ADHD often co-occurs with other mental disorders.
The number, drawn
Why it matters
- ADHD and depression can happen together, so don't automatically put a change in mood down to ADHD.
- NIMH describes major depression as depressed mood or loss of interest lasting at least two weeks and getting in the way of daily life.
- In children it may look like irritability more than sadness.
- Treat these as reasons to get help, not a checklist for diagnosing yourself or your child.
How to do it
- Compare now with your usual: mood, enjoyment, how well you manage ordinary days.
- Tell someone you trust what has changed and how long it has been going on.
- Take those examples to a health professional, and go sooner if symptoms are severe.
- This cannot diagnose depression.
- For thoughts of suicide, seek help now: contact a crisis line or helpline in your country, and call your local emergency number if anyone is in immediate danger.
Putting it into practice
In real life
- Things you usually enjoy have felt empty for days and this is affecting daily life.
- Your child is unusually irritable and has stopped enjoying time with friends.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeWaiting for visible sadness can miss depression in children, so notice irritability and loss of interest too.
- Common mistakeTwo weeks is not a waiting rule. Get help sooner for severe symptoms or safety concerns.
Trusted guides
How we rated it
- Evidence grade
- C Small or mixed studies, expert consensus or clinical practice. Worth knowing, not worth betting on.
- The number
- Major depression symptoms last at least 2 weeks (NIMH, 2024)
- Benefit
- 65/100 An editorial priority for the general list, weighted by certainty. It does not predict what will happen for you.
- Effort
- Some effort
Sources
- Tier 1 guidelineDepressionNIMH, 2024
- Tier 1 guidelineADHD in Adults: 4 Things to KnowNIMH, 2024
- Tier 1 guidelineAnxiety and Depression in ChildrenCDC, 2026
- General information about ADHD, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.
- Tailoring changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess you.
- Medication decisions belong with you and a qualified clinician.