As a mental health nurse, do depressed people say they're depressed? In your experience, that is? See ehn, I was depressed for about six months some years back cos my life wasn't going as planned. My mum is a public health worker with plenty years experience. It took a while for her to identify I had a problem. It took another while for me to be made to see I had a problem. So, I ask again, do depressed people say they're depressed?