Unfortunately, that's pretty typical. I hate the psychiatric diagnostic system.

Were they suggesting some kind of depression treatment? Did they diagnose a particular depressive disorder such as MDD? Or were they just using "depression" in their notes as a weird shorthand for "this person is super sad right now."

It's hard to tell the difference between "disorder" sadness and regular sadness, but I have some experience because I have MDD/dysthymia in remission. I'm normally treated for psychiatric conditions by my PCP, but since the ADHD meds weren't working very well, I went to a psychiatrist and that entailed a full diagnostic/intake appointment. In addition to re-diagnosing me with ADHD, he also said I was "still moderately depressed"... because I'm sad about having untreated ADHD! I'm pretty sure he would have diagnosed me with some kind of depressive disorder even if I didn't have it.