Depression is a common but serious mental health condition that can affect every aspect of daily life, from mood and motivation to sleep, relationships, work, and physical wellbeing. While many people experience periods of sadness or emotional difficulty, depression involves persistent symptoms that continue over time and significantly impact everyday functioning.
In Australia, approximately 1 in 16 people experience depression each year. Although depression can be challenging to manage, it is a treatable medical condition, and a range of evidence-based treatments are available to support recovery.
For people who have not experienced enough improvement with traditional treatments such as antidepressant medication or psychotherapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for depression offers another clinically supported treatment option.
Depression is more than feeling temporarily low or experiencing a difficult period. A depressive episode typically involves symptoms that last for at least two weeks, including a persistently low mood and a reduced ability to experience enjoyment or interest in activities that were previously meaningful.
Depression can affect people differently, but common symptoms may include:
If these symptoms are affecting daily life, seeking professional support is an important first step.
Depression rarely has one single cause. It usually develops through a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Some factors that may contribute to depression include:
Understanding the factors contributing to depression can help clinicians develop a more personalised approach to treatment.
The most common treatments for depression include antidepressant medication and psychological therapies.
Antidepressants have been used to treat depression for many decades and remain an important treatment option for many people. They work by influencing chemical processes in the brain involved in mood regulation and can help reduce depressive symptoms.
However, antidepressants do not work for everyone, and some people experience side effects such as headaches, dizziness, changes in weight, dry mouth, or reduced libido. Finding the right medication and dosage can also involve a period of adjustment.
Psychotherapy, sometimes referred to as talk therapy, can be an effective treatment for depression. Approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) help people understand patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, while developing strategies to manage symptoms.
For some people, psychotherapy alone can lead to meaningful improvement. However, individuals experiencing more severe or persistent depression may require additional treatment approaches alongside psychological support.
This is where treatments such as TMS therapy for depression may provide another option.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment that uses magnetic pulses to influence activity in specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation.
During a TMS treatment session, a specialised coil is positioned against the scalp. The device delivers controlled magnetic pulses that stimulate targeted brain regions associated with depression. These pulses aim to help regulate disrupted brain networks and encourage healthier patterns of brain activity.
Unlike treatments that require surgery or anaesthesia, TMS is performed while the patient is awake and does not involve medication entering the bloodstream.
Research has shown that depression is associated with changes in communication between different areas of the brain, particularly networks involved in mood, motivation, and emotional processing.
TMS for mental health works by helping to modify activity within these networks. Repeated treatment sessions can encourage neuroplasticity — the brain’s natural ability to adapt, reorganise, and form new connections.
TMS is considered a well-tolerated treatment option, with many people experiencing minimal side effects. Some patients may experience mild scalp discomfort or headaches during treatment, which typically improve over time.
TMS is particularly recognised as a treatment option for people with depression who have not achieved sufficient improvement from other approaches, including antidepressant medication or psychotherapy.
In Australia, Medicare rebates are available for TMS therapy for depression for eligible patients who meet specific clinical criteria, including those whose depression has not responded adequately to antidepressant medication or psychological therapies.
Eligibility for Medicare rebates is determined by a qualified medical professional, such as a psychiatrist, following an appropriate clinical assessment.
Every person experiences depression differently, which means treatment approaches should be tailored to the individual.
At neurocare, TMS is delivered using an evidence-based approach that may combine TMS with psychotherapy to support recovery. Research suggests that combining treatment approaches can improve outcomes for some patients compared with using individual treatments alone.
Advances in personalised mental health care, including technologies such as quantitative EEG (QEEG) brain mapping, are also being explored to better understand individual brain activity and potentially guide future treatment decisions.
Depression can be complex, but effective treatments are available. Whether through medication, psychotherapy, TMS therapy, or a combination of approaches, finding the right treatment plan with the support of qualified clinicians is an important part of recovery.
For people experiencing persistent depression, particularly when previous treatments have not provided enough relief, TMS for depression represents an evidence-based option that may help support improvements in mood, motivation, and quality of life.
Call: 1300 149 300
Email: enquiry.au@neurocaregroup.com
Speak with our friendly team to learn more about TMS and other mental health treatment options available at neurocare.