Anxiety is not a niche concern. It is one of the most common health conditions in the United Kingdom, affecting millions of people. According to NHS data, 22.6 per cent of adults aged 16 to 64 have a common mental health condition. The Priory Group reports that enquiries for anxiety and depression have increased by 68 per cent since 2019.
If you are reading this because you are struggling, know that you are not alone, and that effective help is available, often sooner than you might think.
NHS England recorded over 204,000 new referrals for anxiety in young people during a single recent year, and the figures for adults are even larger. The demand for mental health support has surged in recent years, driven by increased awareness, reduced stigma, and the psychological toll of living through uncertain times.
Waiting times for NHS talking therapies can range from several weeks to several months. For more specialist services such as psychiatry, waits of six months or longer are not uncommon. Even getting an initial GP appointment to discuss your mental health can take weeks.
This creates a painful catch-22: you summon the courage to ask for help, only to be told that help is weeks or months away.
A private GP is not a replacement for specialist psychiatric care, but for many people experiencing anxiety, a GP is exactly the right starting point. What a private GP offers is speed — a same-day video consultation means you can speak to a qualified doctor on the day you reach out.
During your consultation, a private GP can carry out a thorough mental health assessment, provide an initial diagnosis, discuss treatment options, prescribe medication if appropriate, refer you to a therapist or counsellor, and issue a fit note if your mental health is affecting your work.
Your GP will ask about your symptoms, how long you have been experiencing them, and how they affect your daily life. They may use validated screening tools such as the GAD-7 for anxiety or the PHQ-9 for depression. You will discuss your medical history, medications, and lifestyle.
The consultation is a conversation, not an interrogation. Our video consultations are 15 to 30 minutes, giving you the time that a 10-minute NHS appointment cannot.
For mild to moderate anxiety, your GP may recommend self-help strategies, structured exercise, and referral to talking therapies such as CBT. For moderate to severe anxiety, medication such as SSRIs may be recommended alongside therapy. For complex conditions, your GP can refer you to a private psychiatrist, often seen within days rather than months.
Mental health is not a single-appointment issue. One of the most significant advantages of private GP care is continuity — you can see the same doctor at every appointment, building a relationship based on trust and understanding. At Cha2GP, we offer follow-up consultations specifically designed for ongoing mental health management.
If anxiety or mental health difficulties are affecting your quality of life, the most important thing you can do is talk to someone who can help. You do not need to wait weeks for an appointment. Book your consultation today with Cha2GP and take the first step towards feeling like yourself again.
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