Reviewed byZhanar Tulegenova, MDPsychiatrist and psychotherapist, experience 18 years · updated 8 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides care
- A psychiatrist with experience in mobile-team calls and inpatient care
- Where
- By video from anywhere in Almaty, its suburbs, and other cities
- Duration
- First conversation 40–60 minutes, follow-up 20–40 minutes
- Anonymity
- No documents or real name required, no entry in the registry
- When it’s urgent
- Threat to life, aggression, a suicide attempt — call 103 or 112 immediately
- Outcome
- A preliminary assessment of the person’s condition and a clear plan for the next 24 hours
What you should know
I work shifts on the mobile team, and roughly one in three night calls ends not with a home visit but with a video call. A wife calls: her husband hasn’t slept for three days, he keeps pacing the apartment and talks nonstop. Or a mother from the Bostandyk district: her daughter has locked herself in her room and hasn’t come out for two days. The dispatcher first checks whether there is any immediate danger and then suggests: let the doctor see the person on video right now, and we will decide together about a home visit in twenty minutes.
An online consultation does not fully replace an in-person examination, and I always say so honestly. But on video you can clearly see how a person speaks, whether they can follow the conversation, whether they know where they are, and whether there is anxiety, slowness, or agitation. That is often enough to understand whether it is safe to wait until morning, whether a home visit is needed right now, or whether the situation calls for 103. For relatives, it answers the main question of the night: what to do right now.
When to see a psychiatrist by video
- the person hasn’t slept for several nights in a row yet doesn’t feel tired
- anxiety or low mood gets in the way of working, eating, and talking to loved ones
- strange ideas, suspiciousness, or conversations with invisible people have appeared
- behavior and speech have changed after stopping alcohol or medications
- relatives can’t tell whether a doctor needs to come to the home or it can wait until morning
- a follow-up consultation is needed on treatment already prescribed and its side effects
- the person lives in the suburbs or another city and cannot come to an appointment
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.
Why people choose an online appointment over an in-person visit
Most often the reason is simple: fear. People feel ashamed to walk into a psychiatrist’s office, they are afraid of being put on a registry, afraid the neighbors will see. A video call removes that barrier. The second reason is distance and time. From the Alatau or Nauryzbay district to the city center, the drive at rush hour can take more than an hour, and even longer from Kaskelen or Talgar. At night there is nowhere to go, yet the question can’t wait, and an online appointment gives an answer without a trip.
The third group is relatives. Very often it is not the patient who connects, but a mother, a husband, or an adult son. The person refuses to see a doctor, and the family doesn’t know how to persuade them or how serious things are. This kind of consultation is also a psychiatrist’s work: I ask about behavior, sleep, speech, and substance use, explain which signs are dangerous, how to talk to the loved one, and when a home visit or a call to 103 is unavoidable.
How a video consultation works, step by step
You call or send a message, and the dispatcher asks three or four questions: who the patient is, what happened, whether there is a threat to life, and whether alcohol or medications were involved. Then they send a link to a secure video call. The doctor usually joins within 15–30 minutes, at night too. The first minutes are introductions and complaints, followed by questions about sleep, mood, thoughts, and medical history. Have a list of the medications the person takes and any discharge summaries ready. At the end, the doctor explains what they see and chooses the next step together with you.
An online appointment is not suitable if the person is agitated and aggressive, talks about suicide or has already tried to harm themselves, or if there is confusion, seizures, high fever, or signs of poisoning or delirium tremens. In these cases, I ask you to call 103 or 112 right away. The doctor will also not prescribe potent medications without an in-person examination — that requires a home visit or an office appointment.
How we help
Initial assessment
The doctor gathers the complaints and asks when the symptoms started, about sleep, appetite, work, and use of alcohol and medications. They assess speech, thinking, mood, and the person’s insight into their own condition. Based on this, the doctor forms a preliminary conclusion and says plainly how urgent the situation is, what tests are needed, and what to do over the next hours and days.
Consultation for relatives
If the person refuses to talk, the doctor consults the family. They explain what may lie behind the changes in behavior, how to talk without pressure or arguments, and which signs require calling 103 immediately. The doctor helps plan how to offer help so that the person agrees to be examined.
Treatment follow-up
After an in-person examination or discharge from the hospital, video calls are convenient for monitoring: the doctor asks about well-being, sleep, and side effects and adjusts the plan if needed. This makes it easier not to stop treatment too early. The person doesn’t have to cross the whole city in traffic every week. If worrying symptoms appear during treatment, the doctor will offer an in-person examination right away.
Deciding on a home visit or hospital care
If the video call shows that an in-person examination, an IV drip, tests, or observation are needed, the doctor immediately arranges a visit by the Narcology 24 mobile team or helps with hospitalization. The online consultation still matters in this case: the team arrives already understanding the situation and with the right kits. Time on site is spent on helping, not on taking the history all over again.
Myths and facts
MythA psychiatrist can’t tell anything over video
FactPsychiatry relies heavily on conversation: speech, thinking, emotions, and behavior are clearly visible on screen. There are limits — you can’t measure blood pressure or take blood samples — and the doctor will tell you honestly when an in-person examination is needed.
MythOnline consultations are recorded and passed on to databases
FactThe conversation is confidential, and the clinic observes medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” Nothing is recorded without your consent, and you are not placed on a registry after the consultation. Exceptions are possible only on grounds explicitly stated in the law.
MythThey’ll prescribe strong pills online without an examination
FactA responsible doctor does not prescribe serious treatment blindly. Recommendations are given over video, while treatment that requires monitoring starts after an in-person examination or a home visit. If an in-person examination is needed urgently, the doctor arranges a visit the same night.
How a home visit works
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Further treatmentCoding, psychotherapy, rehab or psychiatric follow-up — once the acute state has passed and the person is ready.
Prices in Almaty
| Online psychiatrist consultation | 15 000 ₸ |
| In-person psychiatrist consultation | 18 000 ₸ |
| Psychiatrist home visit | 40 000 ₸ |
| Phone advice | free |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
“Online psychiatrist consultation” in Almaty is available 24/7, including weekends. Home visits: all city districts and nearby settlements. For appointments, Narcology 24 has two branches: 84 Zhandosova St., Almaty and 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty. If you live elsewhere in Almaty and Almaty Region, call us and we'll advise the fastest way to get help.
Confidential and private
in Almaty our doctor can come in ordinary clothes in an unmarked car. Treatment documents are given only to the patient. If you need a certificate or sick note, this is discussed separately and only at your request.
Questions and answers
Can I get a consultation at night or on a public holiday?
Yes. The on-call psychiatrist is available around the clock, including nights, weekends, and public holidays. There are usually more requests at night: insomnia and anxiety get worse, and a loved one’s behavior frightens the family. Connecting takes 15–30 minutes on average after you call the dispatcher.
Does the patient need to be on the call?
Ideally, yes: it is important for the doctor to see and hear the person. But if they refuse, the consultation is held with relatives. The doctor will help assess the situation based on the family’s account and suggest how to offer the loved one an examination without conflict.
Will I get a prescription after an online appointment?
Prescriptions for medications that require in-person monitoring are not issued over video. The doctor gives recommendations, explains what treatment to prepare for, and, if needed, arranges a home visit or an office appointment, where medication is prescribed after an examination.
Does an online appointment work if I live in the suburbs?
Yes. For residents of Kaskelen, Talgar, Konaev, Otegen Batyr, and outlying districts, it is the fastest way to get a psychiatrist’s opinion. If a home visit turns out to be needed, the team will come, but travel time depends on distance and traffic.
What should I prepare for the consultation?
A quiet place where you won’t be interrupted, a charged phone or laptop, a list of current medications, and any discharge summaries and medical reports. It helps to write down in advance when the changes began and what might have triggered them: stress, alcohol, insomnia, or stopping medications.
How is an online consultation different from calling a hotline?
On the line, a dispatcher takes the call and checks how urgent it is. In a video consultation, you work with a psychiatrist: they hold a full conversation, assess the person’s condition, and draw up a care plan. It is a medical consultation, not an information service.
Where do doctors visit in Almaty and where are the branches?
Home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements, 24/7. Appointments at two branches: 84 Zhandosova St., Almaty and 21 Seyfullina Ave., office 11, Almaty. Phone in Almaty: +7 (700) 309-29-88.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Narcology 24 medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) guidelines on alcohol and drug misuse and mental health conditions
- WHO recommendations on the treatment of substance use disorders
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
