Depression services in Bristol

NHS Talking Therapies in Bristol are available via self-referral for mild to moderate depression. For more severe depression, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust provides specialist community mental health services, commissioned by NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB. Private therapists and psychiatrists in Bristol offer additional options.

The NHS treats depression through a stepped-care model. For mild to moderate depression, NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) is the main route - you can self-refer without seeing your GP. These services offer CBT, behavioural activation, counselling, and guided self-help. If your depression is more severe, persistent, or has not responded to initial treatment, your GP can refer you to a community mental health team (CMHT) for specialist support, which may include longer-term therapy, psychiatric assessment, and medication management.

Medication for depression - most commonly SSRIs - is prescribed by GPs or psychiatrists. NICE guidelines recommend offering a choice between talking therapy and medication for moderate depression, and a combination of both for more severe episodes.

Private therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists offer faster access and more choice over the type and frequency of treatment. Some people seek private support because they want a specific type of therapy (such as psychodynamic therapy or EMDR for trauma-related depression), want to start sooner than the NHS waiting list allows, or prefer to choose their therapist.