What is depression?
Depression is more than feeling sad. It is a persistent lowering of mood and loss of interest or pleasure lasting at least two weeks, usually with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, concentration and self-worth. It ranges from mild episodes that respond to structured self-help through to severe illness needing specialist care. Around 1 in 6 adults in the UK experiences a common mental health condition such as depression at any time.
Depression can affect anyone, at any age, and often coexists with anxiety or long-term physical conditions. Diagnosis is clinical: a GP, therapist or psychiatrist assesses your symptoms, their duration and their impact, often using questionnaires such as the PHQ-9. Blood tests are sometimes done to rule out contributors like thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies.
Common symptoms
- Persistent low mood or tearfulness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
- Fatigue and low energy
- Sleep changes — insomnia or oversleeping
- Poor concentration and indecisiveness
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Changes in appetite or weight
How long will you wait?
NHS talking therapies accept self-referrals and often assess within a few weeks, but waits for ongoing high-intensity therapy vary from weeks to several months, and routine community psychiatry referrals can take considerably longer.
Privately, you can typically see a psychiatrist or psychologist within 3–7 days and start therapy within 1–2 weeks.
NHS England median referral-to-treatment wait: 12.4 weeks, with 2.5 million people waiting over 18 weeks (May 2026). Individual waits vary by trust and urgency.
Treatment options
- Talking therapies. CBT, counselling, behavioural activation or interpersonal therapy, matched to the severity and nature of the depression.
- Antidepressant medication. SSRIs and related medicines, effective for moderate-to-severe depression, usually reviewed after 2–4 weeks.
- Combined treatment. Therapy plus medication, which for moderate-to-severe depression often works better than either alone.
- Specialist options. Psychiatric review, and treatments such as rTMS or ketamine-based therapy in specialist settings for treatment-resistant depression.
- Lifestyle support. Structured exercise, sleep routines and social connection, all with genuine evidence of benefit.
What does private treatment cost?
As a guide, private therapy costs around £80–£150 per session, an initial psychiatric consultation around £250–£400, and follow-up medication reviews around £150–£250.
Does health insurance cover depression?
Cover for depression varies significantly between insurers: outpatient therapy and psychiatry may be included, limited to a set number of sessions, or only available as a paid mental health add-on. Pre-existing depression is typically excluded when you join, and repeated claims can lead an insurer to reclassify depression as a chronic condition, restricting future cover. Inpatient mental health care usually has separate, defined limits.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether to seek help?
If low mood or loss of interest has persisted most days for two weeks or more, or is affecting your work, relationships or ability to care for yourself, it is worth talking to your GP or self-referring to NHS talking therapies. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your GP, call NHS 111, or phone Samaritans free on 116 123 — they are there around the clock.
Do antidepressants change your personality?
No. When they work, antidepressants lift the symptoms of depression — low mood, poor sleep, hopelessness — so people typically describe feeling more like themselves, not less. They are not addictive in the way that some sedatives are, though they should be reduced gradually under guidance rather than stopped abruptly. Side effects are usually mild and often settle within the first couple of weeks.
Is private treatment worth considering?
The main advantages are speed and choice: an appointment within days rather than weeks or months, your pick of therapist or psychiatrist, and continuity with the same clinician throughout. That can matter when you are struggling now. NHS talking therapies remain a good, free option, and self-referral means you can join an NHS waiting list while exploring private care in parallel.