Depression Treatment
What is Depression?
Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, with the World Health Organization ranking depression as the leading cause of disability globally. We use Depression to describe when people have a low mood for most of the day over long periods of time (at least 2 weeks), rather than just a short period. It can affect how you think, feel and behave and often has a huge impact on an individuals life.
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
Physical Symptoms
Changes in appetite or weight
Difficulty sleeping
Feeling breathless
Loss of sex drive
Feeling agitated and restless
Reduced energy / fatigue
Constipation
Changes to menstrual cycle
Unexplained aches and pains
Performing slower than usual
Emotional and Behavioural Symptoms
Low self worth
Finding it hard to concentrate
Feeling hopeless and empty
Suicidal Ideation
Low mood
Loss of interest in hobby's / activities
Lack of enjoyment
Self harm
Hopelessness about the future
Feeling guilty
Difficulties concentrating
Social Symptoms
Breakdown of relationships with friends and family
Lack of enjoyment in activities previously enjoyed
Underperforming at work
Socially withdrawing
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
Physical Symptoms
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling breathless
- Loss of sex drive
- Feeling agitated and restless
- Reduced energy / fatigue
- Constipation
- Changes to menstrual cycle
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Performing slower than usual
Emotional and Behavioural Symptoms
- Low self worth
- Low mood
- Hopelessness about the future
- Loss of interest in hobby's / activities
- Feeling guilty
- Feeling hopeless and empty
- Lack of enjoyment
- Difficulties concentrating
- Suicidal Ideation
- Self harm
Social Symptoms
- Breakdown of relationships with friends and family
- Lack of enjoyment in activities previously enjoyed
- Underperforming at work
- Socially withdrawing
What are some of the
different types of depression?
Depression is generally categorized as Mild, Moderate, or severe depending on the number of symptoms that you have and the effect that these symptoms are having on your every day life.
A good screening tool that you can use is the Major Depression Index. It can be helpful to fill these in prior to your appointment as a baseline, then at each follow up so we can monitor your response to treatment.
How can we treat Depression?
There are various different ways of treating depression, and these will be discussed with you at your appointment with one of our friendly clinicians.
Generally speaking these can be divided into Non-Medication, and Medication Treatment.
Non medication treatments often involve pursuing counselling, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Self-Help. We can discuss these at your appointment.
There are a number of different medications that can be prescribed for depression that will be discussed at your appointment with your clinician. It is often the case that people respond differently to medications, and therefore at Harley Street Mental Health, our clinicians like to discuss treatments in depth and come to a shared decision on which treatment plan would be most appropriate.
What we can't treat
Please note that due to the nature of our service, unfortunately we are unable to see any psychiatric emergencies, or individuals with any suicidal ideations. We would advise anyone to take the following steps.
- If you are under the care of a community mental health team, please get in touch with them or their crisis helpline.
- Phone the Samaritans, who operate an always open service where you can talk to someone in confidence. They can be contacted on 116 123
- Contact the NHS on 111.
- Request an emergency appointment with your GP.
- Phone 999 or visit your local A&E if there is a life threatening mental health emergency.
What is the process for Depression Assessments
At Harley Street Mental Health we pride ourselves on listening to our service users experiences and creating treatment plans base on their needs.
01.
Initial Assessments
Our Initial Psychiatric Assessments are conducted by one of our expert clinicians and last around 1 hour.
02.
Final Assessment
After this assessment you will be provided with a report outlining the assessment, any diagnosis if this has been made and a proposed treatment plan including recommended follow up.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our team is here to help. Contact us for personalized guidance.
A private depression assessment at Harley Street Mental Health is a comprehensive evaluation carried out by an experienced consultant psychiatrist. We assess your symptoms, mental health history, physical health, and lifestyle to understand the full picture of what you are experiencing. Our goal is to provide an accurate diagnosis and create a personalised treatment plan to help you recover and move forward with your life.
All depression assessments are carried out by fully qualified consultant psychiatrists who are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). Our psychiatrists are carefully selected for their clinical expertise as well as their approachable, empathetic style, ensuring you feel heard, respected, and supported during your assessment.
Yes. Our depression assessments follow NICE guidelines and are thorough, detailed, and widely accepted by NHS GPs and services. Your GP should be able to record any diagnosis made on your NHS medical record. If medication is recommended during your assessment, some GP practices may have policies that restrict prescribing medications initiated privately , so it’s always a good idea to check with your GP in advance if you wish to transfer ongoing care.
During your depression assessment, your psychiatrist will ask about your symptoms, when they began, their severity, and how they impact your daily life. They will also explore your medical history, mental health history, family background, current medications, and any previous treatments you’ve tried. The session is designed to fully understand your experience and to recommend the most effective next steps for treatment and support.
Before your depression assessment, you will be invited to complete electronic questionnaires covering your symptoms and experiences. There are free-text areas where you can share important information with your psychiatrist in advance, which is especially helpful if you find it difficult to express everything verbally during the appointment. Completing these forms can ease the pressure on the day and helps us deliver the most thorough and supportive assessment. You might also wish to make a note of your symptoms, any specific triggers, treatments you’ve tried, and bring along any past psychiatric letters, therapy notes, or a list of current medications.
Yes, there are several evidence-based treatments for depression that do not involve medication. Talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), lifestyle changes, and psychological support can be highly effective. Medication may also be recommended if appropriate. Your psychiatrist will discuss all suitable options during your assessment and help you make an informed decision based on your needs and preferences.
Yes. We know that speaking about depression can feel daunting, especially if it’s your first psychiatric appointment. All our psychiatrists are chosen not only for their clinical skill but also for their warmth, understanding, and patient-centred approach. You will find a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can share your experiences openly and receive expert, compassionate support.
Absolutely. Harley Street Mental Health is fully committed to providing inclusive and respectful care for everyone. We understand that depression can present differently across cultures, genders, and individual experiences. Our psychiatrists are trained to recognise these differences and to provide care that acknowledges and values your identity, background, and preferred name and pronouns.
We offer both virtual depression assessments and in-person assessments at our clinic at 10 Harley Street, London. Both options provide the same high-quality, detailed evaluation and treatment planning. Some patients prefer the privacy and convenience of a video consultation, while others feel more at ease speaking face-to-face. You are welcome to choose whichever option you feel most comfortable with , the standard of care remains exactly the same.
We offer fast access to private depression assessments, often with availability within a few days. This allows you to get the support you need quickly, without the long NHS waiting times often associated with accessing mental health services.
What makes you different to other clinics?
We hand pick all of our clinicians to ensure that they have the same values as us.
This ensures that our service users are actually listened to and are the heart of our treatment plans.
We recognise that diagnosis and treatment plans cannot simply be “one size fits all” and our personalised down to earth approach aims to keep the process as easy as possible.
We will try to keep your costs low where possible. Once you are on the right dose and feeling settled (you may need one or two medication titration appointments to achieve this), you can order your medication through the repeat medication process.
Following two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes, we will consider returning your care to your GP.
Can I see you on the NHS?
We are a private clinic, and therefore you cannot be seen by us as part of the NHS. <br><br>We can write to your GP once you are stable on your treatment to ask them to take over prescribing as part of a Shared Care Agreement, however they are under no obligation to accept this agreement.
Do I need a referral?
Our clinicians can see you directly without a referral, however a condition of all appointments is that you agree for Harley Street Mental Health to copy your GP into all assessment and treatment plans.
We are happy to accept referrals from other clinicians, however this is not necessary to use our service.
What happens during an appointment?
If you have booked a virtual appointment, you will be sent an invitation through our clinic software known as “Semble”. On the day of your appointment, you click the link and will enter into a video interview with one of our clinicians.
If you have booked an in-person appointment you will be greeted by your clinician in the waiting room.
Do you accept insurance?
Currently we do not accept insurance, and all of our assessments and treatment plans are self funded, and therefore we encourage you to look at the “fees” page prior to booking.
Do you prescribe medication?
Our team are able to prescribe medication as part of your treatment plan if this is required. Our prescriptions are private, and therefore you will be liable for the cost of the prescription and the medication.
Hod do I know if the treatment will be beneficial?
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with psychiatry. All of our clinicians are extremely experienced and prescribe based on the most up to date evidence base. You will be involved in your treatment plans at all stages.
I have a complaint?
We are sorry to hear that you have a complaint. Please see the complaints section of our website or email complaints@hsmh.co.uk where we will endeavour to resolve your complaint in a timely manner.
What are the fees associated with ADHD Assessments?
Please see the fees section on the website. It is important that you are aware of all costs prior to starting treatment. An ADHD assessment costs £715 and lasts approximately 1.5 hours and will include a detailed written report and treatment plan (includes a prescription which will posted to your chosen pharmacy, if medication is considered suitable for you).
The cost of medication will be in addition to this and paid directly to your chosen pharmacy.
We then require service users to attend titration appointments at £150 each where your medication is adjusted until most effective. Once you move on to repeat prescriptions, they will cost £48 for a monthly prescription.
Once you are stable on your medication (around two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes and you feel much better) you can ask us to write to your GP and enter into a shared care agreement which costs £125. Your GP is under no obligation to accept a shared care agreement, and therefore we encourage all service users to discuss this with their GP prior to using our service.
Are you registered with the CQC?
Yes, we have been approved for registration with the Care Quality Commission
I have another question
Please email us on contact@hsmh.co.uk and we will get back to you shortly
Our Process
Prior to booking an appointment we encourage patients to :
1. Discuss their concerns with their GP. We encourage this to start the discussion early, in particular asking them if they are able to enter into shared care agreements once you are stable. If they are unable to do this, it will mean that even once stable, all of your prescriptions will have to be provided through Harley Street Mental Health at a cost.
2. Read the information provided about the conditions we treat in the above table and consider filling in the screening questionnaires.
3. Request a Summary Care Record from your GP. This can be accessed either through the NHS app, or by phoning up your GP Surgery.
4. Ensure you review the fee’s section of the website and are comfortable with the fees associated with assessment and treatment.
5. Ensure you are aware that unfortunately we are unable to provide services to individuals suffering from any psychiatric emergencies, suicidal ideations, or individuals that are currently under the care of a community mental health team.
If you have any questions about our services prior to booking please email contact@hsmh.co.uk and we will assist you on your journey with Harley Street Mental Health.
Use our online booking portal to book a virtual consultation using our state of the art video conferencing software, or email us to schedule an appointment in our prestigious clinic at 10 Harley Street.
Prior to your appointment you will receive an email providing information on what to expect on the day, along with a patient information questionnaire and a self-assessment form to fill in. We require that these are submitted prior to attending your appointment.
If you are visiting us at our clinic in person, one of our friendly clinicians will meet you in the waiting room.
If you are using our secure virtual service, you will be sent a link to join using our state of the art video conferencing software called Semble.
At both appointments you will be required to provide photo identification to confirm your identity. At virtual appointments you will be required to let the clinician know your current location.
This must take place within the United Kingdom.
After your appointment the following will occur:
1. You will receive your assessment outcome via email within 24-48 hours. Where appropriate this will contain your diagnosis and treatment plan.
2. Once agreed, your prescription will be sent to your chosen pharmacy in 72-96 hours. If you choose to use one of our nominated pharmacies, they are able to post medications directly to your door.
3. Your clinician will advise you on frequency of follow-up appointments to monitor treatment and progress.
When your treatment has been completed, you can request us to enter into a shared care agreement with your GP.
If they agree, then they will be able to take over prescribing of medication subject to the conditions of the shared care agreement.
In some instances a GP may refuse to enter into a shared care agreement, in which case all future prescriptions will have to be provided through Harley Street Mental Health. It is for this reason that we ask patients to speak to their GP prior to booking an appointment with our service.
How do I book an appointment?
Booking is quick and easy. Simply visit our website, select your service, and choose a suitable time.
Do you offer in-person and virtual consultations?
Yes, we provide both in-person assessments at 10 Harley Street and secure virtual consultations.
How soon will I receive my assessment report?
You will receive your detailed assessment report within 3 to 5 days after your consultation.
Are your clinicians qualified and accredited?
Absolutely. Our team consists of GMC-registered doctors and accredited specialists following NICE guidelines.
Can I get a repeat prescription?
Yes, we offer a straightforward repeat prescription service for ongoing treatment management.
Book your assessment today
Have a glance at the calendar and select a good time for you.