Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who leads the session
- a mobile-service psychiatrist, together with an addiction specialist (narcologist) when needed
- Format
- an in-person home visit; before the visit, an online or phone consultation to assess urgency
- Duration
- a 60–90-minute examination; the arrival time is agreed when the visit is booked
- Anonymity
- a confidential visit with no identifying markings; medical confidentiality under Kazakhstan law
- When it is urgent
- aggression, a self-harm attempt, seizures, delirium—call 103 or 112 first
- Outcome
- an in-person assessment, recommendations, and if needed, a referral to inpatient care and a follow-up plan
What you should know
Why is an in-person visit sometimes necessary? An online consultation covers most tasks in outpatient psychiatry, but there are situations where a face-to-face examination is unavoidable: the person refuses a video call or is disoriented, dementia or delirium is suspected in an elderly patient, or an assessment of physical health, a risk to life, or a decision about hospitalization is needed. In these cases, a home visit by a doctor becomes the safest option for both the patient and the family.
The home setting also has diagnostic value: the doctor sees how the person lives, how their daily life is organized, which medications are in the house, and how they behave in a familiar environment. For families living in the outlying parts of the Baikonur, Saryarka, or Nura districts, and during the freezing, windy winter, when transporting an elderly or anxious person becomes a problem in itself, a psychiatrist home visit spares them a trip across the city and long waits in emergency departments.
When to Request a Psychiatrist Home Visit
- the person refuses to leave home and will not agree to a video call
- an elderly relative has suddenly developed confusion, anxiety, or delusions
- your loved one has stopped taking prescribed medication and their condition is getting worse
- there are signs of psychosis: hearing voices, suspiciousness, strange behavior
- severe depression: the person barely gets out of bed, does not eat, and neglects self-care
- you need an assessment of whether hospitalization is necessary without a trip to the emergency department
- the patient has limited mobility and cannot come to an in-person appointment
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.
Why Some Patients Cannot Come to a Doctor
Many mental health disorders directly reduce a person’s ability to seek help. Severe depression impairs motivation and energy, psychosis impairs insight into one’s own condition, and with agoraphobia, leaving the house causes intense anxiety. In older people, cognitive impairment and physical illnesses limit mobility. These are not whims but manifestations of a condition that call for a flexible format of care.
A separate group consists of acute conditions in older adults, such as delirium caused by an infection, dehydration, or a change in medications. It develops quickly, is accompanied by confusion and fluctuating consciousness, and requires both psychiatric and medical assessment. A home visit makes it possible to quickly identify the cause and route the patient to the right place: a general medical, neurological, or psychiatric hospital.
How an Online Consultation Helps Prepare a Home Visit
First, you contact the on-call doctor by video or phone. The doctor assesses urgency and safety: whether there is a threat to life that requires an ambulance, whether there is aggression, and which medications the patient takes. Prepare medical records, a list of medications, and a timeline of the changes. Based on this, the doctor decides whether a home visit is needed and agrees on a time. Sometimes it already becomes clear online that remote follow-up or a scheduled in-person consultation is enough.
A psychiatrist home visit does not replace an ambulance: in the event of aggression that threatens others, a self-harm attempt, seizures, severe delirium, or a suspected overdose, call 103 or 112. Involuntary hospitalization is possible only under the procedure established by Kazakhstan law. Psychiatry Online helps arrange the right care pathway and supports the family at every stage.
How we help
In-person psychiatric examination
The doctor conducts a clinical interview and assesses consciousness, orientation, thinking, perception, mood, and insight into the condition. If needed, brief cognitive tests are used—especially for older adults. An important part of the examination is talking with family members: what has changed, how quickly, whether there have been similar episodes before, and what preceded the deterioration.
Assessing risks and physical health
The doctor assesses the risk of self-harm and aggression, as well as signs of delirium, dehydration, intoxication, and medication side effects. If a physical cause is suspected—an infection, a metabolic disorder, or a neurological illness—the doctor recommends urgent evaluation by the relevant specialists, so that psychiatric symptoms are not treated in isolation from their cause.
Deciding on further care
Based on the examination, the doctor determines the best level of care: outpatient treatment with online follow-up, a day hospital, or hospitalization. The decision takes into account safety, the patient’s wishes, and the requirements of Kazakhstan law. The family receives a clear explanation of why this particular option was chosen and what to do next.
Transition to online follow-up
Once stabilized, many patients can be followed remotely: regular video consultations, treatment monitoring, and contact with the doctor between appointments. For the family, this means fewer trips and uninterrupted care. If the condition worsens again, another home visit can be arranged without starting from scratch, because the doctor already knows the history.
Myths and facts
MythA psychiatrist comes to your home to take you to the hospital
FactMost home visits end with recommendations and outpatient treatment. Hospitalization is offered only when clinically indicated, and without the patient’s consent it is possible only under the procedure established by Kazakhstan law.
MythThe neighbors will find out a psychiatrist came by
FactThe visit is confidential: the doctor arrives without identifying markings or a special vehicle, and information about the visit is protected by medical confidentiality. To the neighbors, it looks like an ordinary visit from a guest.
MythA psychiatrist home visit is the same as an ambulance
FactAn ambulance provides emergency care when there is a threat to life. A psychiatrist home visit is a scheduled or urgent specialist examination. In dangerous situations, call 103 or 112 first rather than waiting for a psychiatrist.
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 Astana
| Psychiatrist home visit | 45 000 ₸ |
| Night visit (10 pm – 8 am) | 55 000 ₸ |
| Preliminary online consultation | 15 000 ₸ |
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 Astana: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Astana and Akmola Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.
Questions and answers
How quickly will the psychiatrist arrive?
The arrival time depends on urgency and on how busy the mobile service is, and it is agreed when the visit is booked. If the situation is life-threatening, do not wait—call 103 or 112. A preliminary online consultation helps determine urgency correctly and avoid losing time.
Can a psychiatrist be called if the person objects?
The doctor can come at the family’s request and try to establish contact. An examination without consent and involuntary hospitalization are possible only in cases provided for by Kazakhstan law. During the online stage, the doctor will explain how to properly prepare for such a visit.
Do you make home visits in all districts?
Yes, home visits are available in all city districts—Yesil, Almaty, Saryarka, Baikonur, and Nura—and in the nearby suburbs. The arrival time depends on the distance and road conditions, especially during blizzards and snowfall; you will be given an estimated time when you book the visit.
What should we prepare before the doctor arrives?
All the medications the patient takes, medical records and specialist reports, and test results if available. Write down a timeline of the changes: when they started and how they developed. Try to ensure a calm environment and an opportunity to talk with the patient privately, if it is safe to do so.
Can the doctor give an injection or an IV drip at home?
The scope of care at home is determined by the doctor based on clinical need and within the requirements of Kazakhstan law. For withdrawal states, an addiction specialist (narcologist) comes and can provide IV infusion therapy. If there is a threat to life, emergency care is needed—call 103 or 112.
Can we continue online after the home visit?
Yes. After an in-person examination, many patients switch to online follow-up: video consultations, treatment monitoring, and contact with the doctor between appointments. This is especially convenient for elderly people and those with limited mobility, as well as in the winter months, when travel is difficult.
Where can I be seen in Astana?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. 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
