Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F33
- Who you see
- a psychiatrist and, if needed, a psychotherapist
- Format
- video consultations and online follow-up throughout the season
- Duration
- first consultation 40–60 minutes, check-ins every 2–4 weeks
- Anonymity
- consultations are confidential, with no registration on any registry
- When it is urgent
- suicidal thoughts, sudden deterioration — call 103 or 112; young people can also call 150
- Outcome
- an easier passage through the dark season and prevention of future episodes
What you should know
Every year at roughly the same time — when the days get shorter and winter smog hangs over the city more and more often — some people experience a drop in mood and energy and want nothing but to sleep and eat sweets. In spring things even out on their own, and it seems the problem has gone away. But the following fall it all happens again. If this pattern has repeated for more than one year, it may be seasonal depression — a recurrent mood disorder that responds well to treatment.
In winter in Almaty, many people leave for work at dusk and come home in the dark, spending the daylight hours in an office. The smog over the city further reduces the amount of sunlight, and the wish to get up into the mountains, where it is brighter, gives way to traffic jams and fatigue. An online consultation at Psychiatry Online lets you discuss your symptoms with a psychiatrist without spending your rare daylight hours traveling to a clinic. The doctor will help you understand whether it is seasonal depression and draw up a plan that is easy to start even before the darkest part of the season.
Signs of seasonal depression
- a drop in mood and energy that comes back every fall or winter
- increased sleepiness: you sleep longer than usual but do not feel rested
- stronger cravings for sweets and starchy foods, with weight gain in the cold season
- it is hard to get up in the morning, especially when it is still dark outside
- you lose interest in socializing and want to “hibernate” until spring
- your concentration and productivity at work drop during the dark months
- in spring and summer you feel noticeably better without any special effort
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
What causes seasonal depression
The main hypothesis links seasonal depression to reduced daylight. Light regulates the body’s internal clock and the production of melatonin and serotonin. When there is little morning light, circadian rhythms shift: a person sleeps longer, finds it harder to wake up, and their mood and energy drop. The predisposition also has a genetic component — seasonal depression is more common in people whose relatives have had mood disorders.
City life amplifies the effect. In winter we spend most of the daylight hours indoors under artificial lighting, and the morning hours in a car or bus. In Almaty, winter smog and low cloud cover further reduce the amount of daylight, especially in the lower part of the city. Add the end of the year with its reports and deadlines, and less physical activity because of the cold, and it becomes clear why the winter months are hard for so many people.
How online treatment for seasonal depression works
You message us on WhatsApp → receive a link to the consultation → the psychiatrist asks in detail in which months your condition gets worse, how many years the pattern has repeated and how your sleep, appetite and energy change. It helps to think back over previous seasons in advance and, if possible, check your notes or calendar. At the end the doctor suggests a plan for the whole dark season and schedules check-in appointments to adjust it as the winter goes on.
Physical causes of fatigue and sleepiness cannot be ruled out online: vitamin D deficiency, anemia or hypothyroidism. The doctor will refer you for tests. Choosing a light therapy lamp should be discussed with the doctor, especially if you have eye conditions or bipolar disorder. Medications are prescribed in accordance with the laws of Kazakhstan. If you have suicidal thoughts, call 103 or 112.
How we help
Light therapy
Light therapy with a special bright light lamp is one of the main treatments for seasonal depression in international guidelines. It is usually done in the morning, every day, throughout the dark season. The doctor will advise you on how to choose a lamp, when and for how long to use it, and what to watch for to avoid side effects.
Daily routine and daylight
The psychiatrist helps you build a routine: a consistent wake-up time, a morning walk in natural light and some time outdoors during your lunch break. Even a short walk on the sunny side of the street or in a nearby square has an effect. If you can get up into the foothills on weekends, where there is less smog, that can help too.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for seasonal depression helps change how you relate to winter and keep up your activity and social contacts during the dark months. Research shows that this approach reduces the risk of episodes recurring in the following years. Sessions take place online and fit easily into a work schedule.
Medication
With marked symptoms, the psychiatrist may suggest an antidepressant for the duration of the season, and sometimes starting it preventively before the dark months begin. The decision takes into account your history of episodes and tolerability. A Psychiatry Online psychiatrist monitors the effect and discusses finishing the course in spring, when there is more light.
Myths and facts
MythEveryone gets the winter blues, it is not an illness
FactA mild dip in mood in winter is indeed common. But if it comes back every year, interferes with work and relationships and is accompanied by marked symptoms of depression, it is a medical condition that is worth treating.
MythTaking vitamin D is enough
FactVitamin D deficiency can make fatigue worse, and it is worth checking with a blood test. But vitamin D on its own is not a proven treatment for seasonal depression. The foundation of treatment is light therapy, daily routine, psychotherapy and, if needed, medication.
MythAny bright lamp will do for light therapy
FactTreatment uses special lamps with a specific brightness and ultraviolet protection. An ordinary desk lamp does not provide the necessary effect. It is best to discuss the choice of lamp and the light therapy schedule with your doctor, especially if you have eye conditions.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Almaty
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
Psychiatry Online in Almaty: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Almaty and Almaty Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Almaty is first of all about privacy: no clinic visit, no waiting room. A private room and headphones are enough. Data is stored in a secure system with restricted access and does not enter any state registry without legal grounds.
Questions and answers
How can I tell seasonal depression from ordinary winter tiredness?
Seasonal depression comes back every year, lasts for weeks and is accompanied by low mood, loss of interest, sleepiness and cravings for carbohydrates. Ordinary tiredness passes after rest and does not interfere with your life. If the pattern has repeated for more than one year, it is worth discussing it with a psychiatrist.
When is the best time to start treatment?
Ideally at the start of the dark season or even before it, if episodes recur regularly. Preventive measures started in advance help soften or prevent an episode. But you can seek help at any point: treatment is effective even once depression has already developed.
Can light therapy be done at home?
Yes, light therapy is done at home using a special lamp. The doctor will explain how to position the lamp correctly, at what time of day to use it and how long a session lasts. With bipolar disorder or eye conditions, light therapy requires special caution and must always be agreed with your doctor.
Does a beach vacation in winter help?
A vacation somewhere sunny can temporarily improve how you feel, but symptoms often return once you are back. It does not replace treatment. If a trip is possible, it is best seen as an addition to the main plan that the doctor will put together for the whole season.
Is there such a thing as summer seasonal depression?
Yes, some people have episodes in summer that show up as insomnia, reduced appetite, anxiety and irritability. This is less common, but it is also treatable. The psychiatrist will assess how your symptoms relate to the season and choose an approach.
Do I need treatment every year?
With regular seasonal episodes, the doctor may suggest a preventive plan: light therapy from early fall, psychotherapy and sometimes medication. Online follow-up makes it possible to adjust the plan each year without traveling to a clinic across a snow-covered city.
Where can I be seen in Almaty?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online 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) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy