When should I consider referring a patient with depression to secondary care services?

Refer a patient with depression to specialist mental health services for coordinated multidisciplinary care if: their depression significantly impairs personal and social functioning, they have not benefitted from previous treatments, and they have multiple complicating problems or significant coexisting mental and physical health conditions ¹.

Consider referring people to an NHS triage service for triage and allocation to an appropriate level of service ¹.

Refer children and young people with moderate or severe depression, signs of recurrence, unexplained self-neglect, active suicidal ideas or plans, or if referral is requested by the young person or their family/carers ².

For adults with more severe depression or chronic depressive symptoms that impair personal and social functioning, refer to specialist mental health services for multidisciplinary care ⁵.