Depression treatment in Almaty

Reviewed byArman Magzhanov, MDPsychiatrist, experience 24 years · updated 8 Nov 2026

Key facts

ICD-10 code

F32

Who provides care

A psychiatrist, plus a psychotherapist for psychotherapy

Where

An office in Almaty, home visits, video consultations

Duration

First improvements in 2–4 weeks, a course of 6 months or more

Anonymity

No documents required and no dispensary registration

When it’s urgent

Suicidal thoughts, talk of saying goodbye, refusing food and water — call 103

Outcome

Renewed interest in life, restored sleep, and the ability to work

What you should know

With depression, it is most often not the patients who call us but their loved ones. A call on Saturday morning: a daughter from the Medeu district says that since retiring, her mother has stopped leaving the house, barely eats, wakes at four in the morning, and cries. Or a wife: her husband has been lying on the couch for a month, has stopped going to work, and says “everything is pointless.” The first thing the dispatcher asks is whether there has been any talk of death — the answer determines whether the team goes now or a consultation is scheduled.

An apartment with depression is usually quiet. The curtains are drawn, there is untouched food on the table, and the person sits in one position and answers in single words. They don’t make scenes, so the family assumes for a long time that it is laziness or a whim. My task on the first visit is to assess how deep the depression is and the risk of suicide, rule out physical causes, and decide whether treatment needs to start right now. Most often treatment takes place at home, but sometimes a hospital is safer.

Signs and symptoms of depression

• a low, gloomy mood most of the day, nearly every day
• loss of interest in things that used to bring joy: work, hobbies, socializing
• constant fatigue and lack of energy, even after rest
• waking early at four or five in the morning or, on the contrary, sleeping 12–14 hours
• decreased or sharply increased appetite, changes in weight
• feelings of guilt and worthlessness, thoughts that everyone would be better off without me
• difficulty concentrating, making simple decisions, or remembering things

If two or three points apply, it is worth seeing a doctor. Phone advice is free and confidential. If life is at risk, call 103 or 112.

What causes depression

Depression develops at the intersection of biology and life circumstances. Heredity, differences in neurotransmitter metabolism, hormonal changes, and chronic illnesses — including thyroid and heart disease — all play a role. The trigger is often a loss: the death of a loved one, divorce, losing a job, moving, or retirement. But sometimes depression starts without any obvious reason, and that does not mean the person “talked themselves into it.”

Alcohol deserves a separate mention. Many people try to lift their mood with drink, and for a while it helps. Then alcohol itself begins to deepen the depression, disrupts sleep, and raises the risk of suicide. Depression can also occur with bipolar disorder, after childbirth, in older people, and as a side effect of some medications. That is why the diagnosis should be made by a doctor, not a search engine.

How we help

Myths and facts

How a home visit works

1. Call or message usThe dispatcher answers 24/7 and in 3–5 minutes checks the person's condition, age, how long the drinking or use has lasted, chronic conditions and the address. No surname needed.
2. The doctor sets offAn addiction doctor or psychiatrist comes with equipment and medication. Travel time depends on the district — usually within an hour. If inpatient care or an ambulance is needed, we'll say so straight away.
3. Examination and treatmentBlood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood sugar if needed and a neurological check. Then an IV drip or other treatment as indicated, 1–3 hours.
4. A plan for the next daysAdvice for the family on what to do overnight and tomorrow, phone follow-up and a repeat visit if needed.
5. Further treatmentCoding, psychotherapy, rehab or psychiatric follow-up — once the acute state has passed and the person is ready.

Prices in Almaty

The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.

Where to get help

In almaty you can get help at home, at one of our two branches (84 Zhandosova St., Almaty, 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty) or online if you need a consultation rather than a procedure. The dispatcher answers 24/7 and will tell you straight away which option is safest.

Confidential and private

Information about your request, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We do not share it with employers, schools, the police or neighbours; the only exceptions are those expressly set by law. A first name is enough to call us, and paid confidential treatment does not mean a registry entry.

Questions and answers