If today feels heavy, reach out now.
If you are thinking about harming yourself, or you are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, day or night. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You do not have to have the right words. Reaching out is enough.
HBOT is not a substitute for mental health care. It is not an emergency service, and Suntree is not a mental health provider. The rest of this page is for people who are safe right now and want clear information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for depression.
What the FDA says.
The FDA has published a consumer caution about hyperbaric oxygen therapy claims, and depression is on its list of conditions for which HBOT has not been cleared. You can read the FDA consumer update on hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
That means HBOT is not FDA-cleared to address depression, any possible benefit is investigational, and results vary. Be cautious with any provider or product that promises a mood result from hyperbaric sessions.
What researchers are studying.
Researchers are studying whether breathing oxygen under pressure may affect brain activity, inflammation and blood flow in ways that relate to mood. A 2026 meta-analysis of HBOT for psychiatric conditions pooled nine randomized trials and found improvement in depressive symptoms, but rated the certainty of that evidence as low because of bias risks and large differences between studies.
Some of the research looks at depression after stroke, a specific group that is covered on our neurological and stroke page. Findings in one group may not apply to another. Larger, well-controlled trials are still needed before anyone can say who, if anyone, might benefit.
Keep your mental health care in place.
If you are working with a therapist, counselor, psychiatrist or primary care physician, keep that care going. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine because of anything you read about HBOT. Stopping some medicines suddenly can cause serious problems.
If you are curious about HBOT, bring it up with your clinician first. They know your history and can help you weigh the time, cost and uncertainty against care that has stronger evidence. Questions worth asking:
- Is there any reason HBOT would be unsafe with my health history or medicines?
- How would we know whether anything is changing, and what would we watch for?
- Does the time and cost make sense next to other options you would recommend?
A good clinician will not mind the question. You deserve care that fits you, and asking is part of finding it.
If you still want to ask about HBOT.
Every guest at Suntree in Rockledge starts with a health history and suitability review. HBOT has risks and contraindications, including ear barotrauma, sinus congestion, a history of collapsed lung, pregnancy and some medications. Being in an enclosed chamber can also be hard for people who feel anxious or claustrophobic, so say so early.
Sessions take place in a two-seat hard-shell chamber with staff available throughout, and a session can be stopped. Our first HBOT visit guide explains the process, and current pricing is listed. Wellness HBOT is generally self-pay. You can also read about cognitive research topics.