Depression Treatment in Denver: What Actually Works and What to Try Next

What Is Depression and What Makes It So Hard to Treat?

Depression isn’t just feeling sad. It’s a whole-body experience that can steal your energy, motivation, and even your sense of self. Clinical depression, also known as major depressive disorder, affects thousands of people across Denver and Colorado every year.

Despite its prevalence, it often goes untreated or mistreated. The number of misdiagnosed bipolar patients, or diagnoses that were missed due to gender bias in mental healthcare we see at Axis is astonishing. At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we do things differently. Whether you’re experiencing burnout, grief, want to try deprescribing from meds, or feel like nothing is working, we’re here to offer clarity, alternative treatments for depression, and a more than meds approach to your mental healthcare.

Feeling off but not sure if it’s depression, or just burnout, stress, or something else? You’re not alone. Depression can show up in ways that don’t always look like sadness. If you or a loved one has been feeling foggy, disconnected, or like you’re just going through the motions, this quick quiz can help you make sense of what’s going on. While it’s not a professional diagnosis, it can give you a clearer picture of what you’re experiencing and help you decide what next step feels right.

If the results suggest professional help is recommended, learn how to start a conversation with a loved one struggling with mental health, or check out our research page to learn How to Support Someone with Depression. 

Common Depression Symptoms in Colorado Adults

Many Colorado adults confuse depression with burnout or stress. But clinical depression has deeper roots and clear symptoms.

Common Symptoms Include:

• Persistent sadness or emptiness
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Brain fog or concentration problems
• Fatigue, irritability, or emotional numbness
• Changes in sleep, appetite, or weight
• Physical pain with no medical cause
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Where Does Colorado Rank for Mental Health

Colorado’s rising rates of depression and mental health challenges aren't just personal, they’re part of a larger statewide trend. Colorado ranks #50 of all states for the prevalence of mental illness and #47 for adults with suicidal ideation (over 266K adults, the equivalent of Boulder and Lakewood Behind). If you're wondering how Colorado stacks up nationally when it comes to access, outcomes, and mental health resources, check out our latest update: Where Does Colorado Rank in Mental Health? (2024).

Denver Mental Health Statistics:

1. A 2021 Colorado Health Institute report indicated that over 110,000 Denver residents needed mental health care but did not receive it.
2. Over 1 in 5 adults in Colorado report having been diagnosed with depression.

Boulder Mental Health Statistics:

• Boulder County has a higher ratio of providers per 1,000 residents than RAE Region 6 overall and the Statewide ratio (4.64 disciplines per 1,000 residents in Boulder County)
• Age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 population, which has increased from 16.3 in 2016 (54 suicides) to 20.05 (72 suicides) in 2021.

What Causes Depression? Risk Factors That Might Surprise You

Depression is caused by many factors and some are unique to Colorado:

Colorado-Specific Risk Factors:

• High altitude: Linked to increased risk of depression and suicide due to lower oxygen levels. (Brenner et al., High Altitude Medicine & Biology, 2022)
• Work & housing stress: Rising costs and burnout contribute to emotional exhaustion. (Colorado Health Access Survey, 2023)
• Sunlight & circadian disruption: Even with 300+ sunny days, sudden weather shifts impact sleep and mood. (Colorado Sun, 2022)
• Trauma & inequity: Marginalized groups in Denver face higher depression rates. (Depression in Denver, Through the Lifespan, 2018)

What Are Your Treatment Options in Denver?

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or looking for better results, starting depression treatment in Denver includes:

Talk Therapy (CBT, IPT)

• Helps reframe negative thinking and build coping strategies
• Covered by most Colorado insurance plans

Medication Management

• SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antidepressants
• Often combined with therapy for best results
• In 2022, Colorado was in the Top 10 States with the highest percent of prescriptions filled for anxiety and depression (13.2%).
• Covid had a significant impact on mental health in Colorado. Eight states had more than a 10% increase in fills between 2019 and 2022 and Colorado was one of them.

Integrative Psychiatry

• Combining therapy, psychiatry, and wellness
• Axis offers all services in-house or in collaboration with your doctor and therapist, and nearly all services are covered by most insurance plans

Alternative Depression Treatments (When Traditional Care Falls Short)

Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) affects up to 30% of people with major depressive disorder.

• TMS Therapy: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a drug free approach using targeted magnetic pulses to improve depression over 6 weeks.
  • FDA-cleared, non-invasive, no meds required
  • Insurance covered in Colorado after 2 failed medication trials

• Spravato® (Esketamine): A ketamine-derived nasal spray that delivers fast relief for treatment-resistant cases and suicidal ideation
  • Administered in-clinic under supervision
  • Results often within 2–4 weeks

How Axis Makes Depression Treatment Different

At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we eliminate the stress of fragmented care. We provide one-stop depression treatment in Denver with:

• One team, one plan: Psychiatry, therapy, TMS, and Spravato all under one roof
• Advanced depression treatment options without waiting lists or red tape
• Insurance-friendly, with help navigating benefits 
• Empathetic, judgment-free providers trained in trauma-informed care
• Specialized care for communities
• LGBTQ+ Mental Healthcare: Inclusive, gender-affirming therapy and psychiatry from providers trained in LGBTQ+ mental health needs no judgment, just real support.
• Women’s Mental Healthcare: Compassionate, evidence-based care for postpartum depression, burnout, trauma, and hormone-related mood changes tailored to every stage of womanhood.
• Student Mental Health: Flexible, insurance-covered therapy and psychiatry for high school, college, and graduate students—designed to support academic stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions.
• Step-Down Mental Health Care: Structured support for patients transitioning from inpatient or IOP care offering therapy, psychiatry, and advanced treatments to maintain progress and prevent relapse.

Who We Help

At Axis Integrated Mental Health, we believe better care starts by seeing the whole person. Our team specializes in supporting individuals from all walks of life, especially those who’ve felt overlooked or misunderstood by traditional mental health systems. If you see yourself in one of these communities, you're in the right place.

LGBTQ+ Individuals

Mental health care should never come with judgment. We offer affirming therapy, psychiatric support, and advanced treatments in a space where your identity is respected and celebrated. Whether you're navigating coming out, dysphoria, trauma, or just need a provider who gets it, you’ll find real support here.

Women

From postpartum depression to perimenopause, caregiver burnout to trauma recovery, we provide evidence-based, compassionate care that honors the complexity of being a woman today. Many of our clinicians specialize in women’s mental health and are here to walk beside you at every life stage.

Students

Academic pressure, social isolation, life transitions, and school stress hit hard. Whether you’re in high school, college, or grad school, we offer flexible, insurance-covered therapy and psychiatry that fits your schedule and actually helps you cope. And we can also work with on-campus mental health clinics to coordinate care.

Kids and Teenagers

Teen life isn’t easy. We work with kids and adolescents (ages 5+) to manage anxiety, depression, identity struggles, and school-related stress, without judgment and with full family support when needed. Our team includes psychiatrists who specialize in working with kids and therapy referral partners that specialize in kids.

Patients Stepping Down from Higher-Level Care

If you’re transitioning from inpatient or intensive outpatient (IOP) care, we offer structured, ongoing support to help you maintain your progress. With therapy, medication management, and innovative options like TMS and Spravato, we help prevent relapse and keep your healing going.

Burned-Out Professionals

If you’re exhausted, foggy, or numb despite “doing everything right,” you may be facing more than stress—you may be burned out or depressed. We offer advanced, insurance-covered treatments (like TMS and Spravato), psychiatry, and therapy to help you reclaim your focus and your life and can help you navigate paid mental health leave.

Feeling Numb, Not Broken: You’re Not Alone

Depression doesn’t always scream. It often whispers. If you’re feeling nothing at all, or anhedonia, it’s not your fault. While many people don’t know the difference between laziness vs. depression, the truth is that your brain is doing its best to survive without the support it needs.

At Axis, we know you’re not lazy and we help people who feel numb start feeling again. People who’ve tried everything find new hope. You don’t have to fake it anymore.

Ready to Feel Better? What to Expect at Axis Integrated Mental Health

Getting Started is Simple.

• First, we invite you to explore our clinic and understand our “why”.
• Second, book an intake with a board-certified provider. In 60 minutes, you will co-create a treatment plan tailored to your needs, resources, beliefs, and past medical history.
• Finally, we will call in any meds (if appropriate), take care of all your prior authorizations, work with you on transportation needs if necessary, and schedule your 30-minute follow-up.

FAQs

• What’s the difference between sadness and clinical depression?

• How do I know if I have treatment-resistant depression?

• Is TMS therapy or Spravato covered by insurance in Colorado?

• How long does it take for depression treatment to work?

• What should I expect at my first visit with Axis?