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Depression

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A New Path to Healing: Ketamine Therapy for Depression in Markham, Ontario

If you’ve been living with depression, you may feel worn down, unfocused, or like progress just isn’t coming as quickly as you hoped. You might have tried antidepressants, therapy, or lifestyle changes, but the symptoms are still there. It’s understandable to feel discouraged. It’s important to know that you’re not alone, and there are still options to explore.

For some people, depression doesn’t fully improve with medications or talk therapy, which can be referred to as treatment‑resistant depression (TRD). This doesn’t mean you’re out of options. It simply means your brain may respond better to a different approach, like ketamine therapy, which works in unique ways to help you recover from depression.

At KetaMind Health, we offer medically supervised intravenous (IV) ketamine therapy for people in Toronto and the GTA who are living with depression and treatment‑resistant depression. Our team takes time to listen, understand your story, and design a plan that fits your needs. From your first consultation to your ongoing care, we’re here to make sure you feel safe, informed, and supported.

The Science Behind Ketamine Treatment for Depression

The Science Behind Ketamine Treatment for Depression

Research suggests that ketamine works by blocking NMDA receptors, leading to a biochemical process that encourages brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production. BDNF is believed to support the brain's ability to adapt and grow new neural pathways. Unlike traditional medications that can take weeks, ketamine’s effects on neuroplasticity begin within a shorter time frame, offering what researchers call rapid-acting antidepressant effects.

By supporting better brain connectivity, ketamine can help improve mood and overall mental health.

Why Consider Ketamine for Depression?

  • Rapid Improvement in Depression Symptoms: IV ketamine therapy works much faster than conventional antidepressants, which often take weeks or months to make a difference. Many people begin to notice improvements in mood after their first few infusions.
  • Proven Results: Studies show that IV ketamine treatment can significantly reduce the symptoms of depression. Many people experience lasting relief after a series of infusions. For those who haven’t improved with medications, therapy, TMS, or ECT, ketamine provides a safe and effective alternative.
  • Supports New Brain Connections: Ketamine stimulates neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s natural ability to form new connections. This process helps repair pathways that depression can weaken, making it easier to think clearly, regulate emotions, and re-engage with daily life.
  • Safe and Well-Tolerated: When administered in a clinical setting with caring support, ketamine infusion treatment is considered to be very safe. Side effects are usually mild and temporary. In fact, ketamine generally has far fewer side effects than typical antidepressants.
  • Reduction in Suicidal Thoughts: One of the most important benefits of IV ketamine for depression is its ability to quickly reduce suicidal thinking. Research shows that many people can experience relief from suicidal ideation within hours of their first infusion.
  • Understanding Depression: For many people, depression does not come from nowhere. It can be shaped by early life experiences, unresolved emotional pain, or long-standing stress that lives in the body as much as the mind. Experiences like family conflict, chronic illness, financial hardship, or major loss often leave deep imprints on the nervous system that are not always addressed by conventional depression treatment. Ketamine infusion therapy for depression can help bring these patterns into awareness in a way that feels manageable and grounded. Many people describe feeling more able to reflect on difficult experiences without becoming overwhelmed. With the right preparation and support, this treatment can help people reconnect with themselves and create space for meaningful emotional healing.

What to Expect at KetaMind Health

  • We administer ketamine treatments for depression through intravenous infusion, which is the most effective and scientifically validated method. A typical course of treatments consists of 6 infusions over three weeks, with each session lasting about 60 minutes. Throughout your treatments, you will be supported by our interdisciplinary care team, led by our experienced Royal College anesthesiologist with oversight from our psychiatrist.
  • During an IV ketamine infusion, many patients experience a gentle dissociative state, often described as a dream-like or “out-of-body” sensation. For many, this is a valued part of the healing process, helping them access new perspectives and emotional clarity. At each session you will be monitored the entire time by our expert and compassionate team.
  • At KetaMind Health, your safety and comfort are our highest priority. We use hospital grade monitoring equipment to continuously track your vital signs, including pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and electrocardiogram
  • To support optimal outcomes, we provide a spa-like treatment environment designed to promote comfort, calm, and peace of mind.

What Sets KetaMind Health Apart?

  • At KetaMind Health, your care is overseen by Dr. Darren Ezer, a Royal College anesthesiologist (FRCPC) with over 20 years of clinical experience. With over 15,000 ketamine infusions safely administered, our clinic is one of the most experienced ketamine treatment centres in Canada.
  • We’ve built our facility to feel calm, private, and welcoming, creating an environment that supports relaxation and healing. Every care plan is personalized, with dosing tailored to your individual response and needs.
  • Our approach goes beyond the infusion itself. You’ll meet with a therapist beforehand to prepare and set intentions. During your sessions, our compassionate mental health nurses will be by your side to ensure you feel safe and supported. Afterward, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with a therapist to help process your experience and apply insights in a way that supports lasting change.
  • To measure progress, we track and assess mood using validated tools such as the PHQ-9 for depression. According to our data, more than 80% of our patients report improvement in their depression symptoms following ketamine treatment.
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Is Ketamine Therapy for Depression Safe?

  • Yes — when administered in a clinical setting by trained professionals, ketamine therapy is considered safe and well-tolerated.
  • At KetaMind Health, your treatment is overseen by our experienced medical staff. We use low-dose intravenous infusions and monitor you continuously throughout each session with state-of-the-art equipment. We also ensure that each person is emotionally supported by our care team at all times.
  • Mild side effects such as dizziness, fatigue, or nausea can occasionally occur, but they typically resolve soon after treatment. Serious side effects are rare, and we carefully review your medical history beforehand to make sure ketamine is appropriate and safe for you.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate for IV Ketamine Therapy for Depression?

  • You may be exploring new approaches to depression treatment because what you’ve tried so far hasn’t brought the results you were hoping for. Ketamine therapy may offer a new path forward, especially for those who have felt stuck, emotionally exhausted, or overwhelmed by persistent depression symptoms. In some cases, it can also provide support during periods of heightened distress, including thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
  • At the same time, ketamine therapy is not the right fit for everyone. Certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, specific heart issues, or active substance use, may affect whether it’s safe. Our team takes the time to review your full health history with care and attention, so we can determine if ketamine is a safe and appropriate option for you.
  • Before beginning treatment, you’ll meet with a member of our clinical team for a comprehensive consultation. We’ll take the time to understand your goals, your previous experiences with treatment, and any questions or concerns you may have. This process helps us develop a treatment plan that is thoughtful, safe, and personalised to your needs.

Your Path to Healing with Ketamine Therapy

Your journey begins with a thorough medical and psychological consultation with our clinical team. We review your full health history, current symptoms, treatment goals, and assess whether IV ketamine therapy is a safe and appropriate fit for you.
Once you are approved for treatment, you’ll meet with a licensed integration therapist before your first infusion. This session helps you mentally and emotionally prepare, establish clear intentions, and begin to explore the emotional landscape that ketamine therapy may help you access.

You’ll receive six intravenous ketamine infusions 3 weeks in our relaxing Markham clinic. Each session is carefully monitored the entire time by our medical staff.

After your sessions, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with an integration therapist. These sessions help you process your experiences, apply insights to your daily life, and support long-term healing. Integration is a vital component in translating the benefits of ketamine into meaningful life change.
After the initial infusion series, we’ll work with you to develop a customized maintenance plan. This may include occasional booster infusions, check-ins with our team, and continued integration support to ensure sustained well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone’s experience is a little different. Many people begin to notice changes in mood between the third and fifth infusion. A smaller number may feel a shift immediately after the first session, while for others the progress builds more gradually and becomes clearer once the initial series is complete.

After the initial series of six infusions, some people feel stable without additional sessions. Others find that occasional maintenance infusions every 3 to 8 weeks help them stay on track. We’ll work closely with you to create a plan that supports your long‑term wellbeing.

Ketamine isn’t a cure, but it can help many people feel better in a short amount of time and support the brain in creating new pathways. This often opens a window for healing, making it easier to engage in therapy, healthy lifestyle practices, self‑care, and other supports that build lasting wellness.

In most cases, yes. Many people continue their medications during treatment. Our medical team will review your full history to make sure everything you’re taking is safe and works well alongside ketamine.

Ketamine is a Health Canada-approved medication. Health Canada approved ketamine in the 1970s as an anaesthetic for diagnostic and surgical procedures. However, it’s currently not approved for other indications, like mood conditions. Doctors can, nevertheless, prescribe ketamine “off-label” for other medical conditions. This means that a doctor can legally prescribe ketamine infusion therapy, even if it’s not specifically approved by Health Canada. Off-label use of medications is actually quite common in medicine, with almost one-quarter of medications being prescribed off-label worldwide.

 

Since Ketamine is a generic drug, it’s unlikely to ever be approved by Health Canada for conditions such as depression. The cost of going through the approval process could be millions of dollars, and since it’s already widely used and approved as an anaesthetic, it’s doubtful that any company would be willing to pay that.

 

Ketamine therapy is approved by Health Canada in the form of an intranasal spray. This is specifically for treating major depressive disorder in patients who have previously not responded to two or more antidepressants.

Take the Next Step

  • Depression can affect every part of your life, including your work, your relationships, and your overall sense of well-being. As a leading provider of ketamine therapy for depression in Toronto, Ontario and Canada we want you to know that hope and healing are possible.
  • If you're ready to explore whether ketamine therapy is right for you, we invite you to reach out. All inquiries are completely confidential, and we offer free consultations to help you make an informed decision. Fill out our contact form or call or text us at (416) 343-0074. We’re here when you’re ready.
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