"Hello, I’m [Your Name], one of the doctors/nurses. I understand you've come in today because you've been feeling low or down recently. Is that right?"
"Before we go any further, what are your thoughts about what might be causing these feelings, or what they might mean for you?"
"And is there anything in particular that you're worried about, or anything you were hoping we could achieve during our conversation today?"
"You mentioned feeling low. Could you tell me more about that? How long have you been feeling this way?"
"Over the past month, have you often felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"
"And in the past month, have you had little interest or pleasure in doing things you usually enjoy?"
"Have you noticed any changes in your sleep? Are you having trouble falling asleep, waking up very early, or perhaps sleeping much more than usual?"
"How about your appetite? Has it changed recently – eating more or less than usual? And has your weight changed without trying?"
"Have you noticed any changes in your energy levels? Do you feel tired all the time, even after resting?"
"How about your concentration? Are you finding it harder to focus, or make decisions?"
"Do you ever feel restless or agitated, or conversely, do you feel slowed down in your thoughts or movements?"
"How do you feel about yourself? Do you often feel worthless, or guilty about things?"
"Do you notice your mood fluctuates throughout the day? For example, is it worse in the mornings?"
"How has this low mood been affecting your daily life – your relationships, your work or studies, or your ability to look after yourself?"
"I need to ask some sensitive questions now, and please know that anything you share is in confidence. Have you ever had thoughts of harming yourself, or wished you weren't here?"
"Have you ever made any plans to act on these thoughts, or taken any steps towards them? Do you have access to anything you might use?"
"Do you ever feel like harming anyone else?"
"Are there any children or vulnerable adults you care for? If so, are you managing to care for them adequately?"
"Sometimes, people experience very high moods as well as low moods. Have you ever had periods where you felt unusually high, irritable, or had a lot more energy than usual, perhaps needing less sleep or doing things that were out of character?"
"Have you ever heard voices or seen things that others don't, or had unusual beliefs that others might find strange?"
"Are there any physical health problems that have been diagnosed or that you're concerned about, as these can sometimes cause or worsen low mood?"
"Have you experienced similar episodes of low mood or depression in the past? If so, how many times, how severe were they, and how long did they last?"
"Have you ever received any treatment for your mental health before, such as medication or talking therapies? Were they helpful?"
"Have you ever been admitted to a hospital for your mental health?"
"Do you have any significant past medical conditions or previous surgeries?"
"Are you currently taking any medications, including anything prescribed by a doctor, or any over-the-counter medicines, supplements, or herbal remedies? This includes any medications that might affect your mood."
"Do you have any allergies to medications or anything else? If so, what kind of reaction did you have?"
"Does anyone in your close family – like your parents, siblings, or children – have a history of depression, bipolar disorder, or suicide?"
"Could you tell me a little about your living situation and who you live with? Do you have a good support network around you? What is your employment or education status, and are there any financial worries?"
"Have you experienced any significant life events recently, such as a bereavement, relationship breakdown, or job loss?"
"How about your lifestyle? Do you smoke, and if so, how much? How much alcohol do you drink in a week? Do you use any recreational drugs, or gamble, and do you feel it's a problem?"
"What kind of things do you do to cope when you're feeling low?"
"Thank you very much for sharing all of that information with me. Just to summarise, you've been experiencing [recap key symptoms], which started [onset] and are often [character/timing]. This has been impacting your [daily life areas]. You've also mentioned [recap relevant PMH/DH/FH/SH]."
"Does that sound like an accurate summary? Is there anything else you feel is important that we haven't covered?"
"Based on what you've told me, I think the next steps would involve [propose next steps, e.g., further assessment, discussing management options like therapy, medication, or referral to mental health services]. Do you have any questions for me at this stage?"
"Thank you for your time."