Hastings, Nebraska
Online Psychiatrist for Depression in Hastings, Nebraska
Board certified, physician led depression care for adults in Hastings, Nebraska, by secure video.
Written under the clinical direction of Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Last updated October 4, 2026 · Editorial policy
Opening soon in Nebraska. Nebraska is one of shrinkMD's first launch states, and we aren't seeing patients yet. Join the Nebraska waitlist and we'll let you know when intake opens. If you need care sooner, here's how to find the right kind of help now. In a crisis, call or text 988.
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Depression in Hastings
Depression help in Hastings, Nebraska
Getting help for depression in Hastings has often meant a long drive or a long wait. shrinkMD brings a board certified psychiatrist to you by secure video instead.
Hastings is the seat of Adams County, a regional center in south-central Nebraska and home to Hastings College. Its residents, farming families, college students and staff, hospital workers, and commuters, deserve psychiatric care that does not require a long drive or a long wait. shrinkMD is licensed across Nebraska and serves Hastings by secure video.
Mental health shortage data
Is Hastings a mental health shortage area?
Adams County outlined; dot marks Hastings. Light teal: other designated counties.
Hastings is in Adams County, which sits entirely inside Mental Health Catchment Area 3, a federally designated mental health shortage area with a score of 12 out of 25.
A shortage designation means there are too few mental health providers for the people who live there, which often shows up as longer waits. Your primary care clinician can start treatment, and telepsychiatry with a clinician licensed in Nebraska can widen your options. See which professional fits what you need.
See Adams County on the Nebraska shortage map · All Nebraska designations
Source: HRSA mental health shortage designations, checked September 28, 2026; 2020 Census. Shrinktionary and shrinkMD are part of The Shrink Network, founded by Shariq Refai, MD.
Our approach
How we treat depression
Depression can look like low mood, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, trouble concentrating, or a heavy hopelessness that will not lift. Depression care here is measurement-based: we evaluate carefully, choose a non-controlled medication when it fits, track your symptoms with validated scales, and adjust until you are genuinely better. Care stays non-controlled here. For depression, that means proven antidepressant options and steady monitoring rather than anything with dependence risk.
Why timely care matters
Getting depression care in Hastings without the wait
Hastings is home to about 25,000 residents. Of Nebraska's 93 counties, the large majority are designated mental health provider shortage areas and many have no psychiatric prescriber at all, leaving rural residents to drive long distances for in-person care. So even here, a timely in-person psychiatry appointment can be hard to come by, and that is the gap online depression care fills for Hastings adults.
Care that fits
Online depression care that fits Hastings life
Telepsychiatry suits Hastings well: no commute, no waiting room, and the same board certified clinician over time, which is what makes depression treatment actually stick. shrinkMD is opening to patients first in Nebraska. Join the waitlist and we will reach out the day intake opens, or read how to start care first. You can also see our broader depression care or depression care across Nebraska.
“I have been with my doctor now for 6 years, I think he hears me and cares about me and my mental health.”
Verified patient reviews of our founder.
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is online treatment effective for depression?
Yes. Studies consistently find virtual psychiatric care matches in-person care for depression, with the added benefit of easier, more consistent follow-up.
What medications might be used?
Non-controlled options such as SSRIs, SNRIs, and other evidence-based antidepressants, chosen and monitored for your situation. We do not prescribe controlled substances.
What if an antidepressant did not work before?
That is common and useful information. A careful re-evaluation often finds a better-fitting diagnosis or medication and a clearer plan.
Do I have to live in Hastings to be seen?
You need to be located in Nebraska during your visits, since that is where we are licensed. Hastings and the surrounding area are covered.
Is online depression care as good as in person in Hastings?
For most adults, yes. Research shows video-based psychiatric care matches in-person care for depression, and it is often easier to keep up with from Hastings.
Do I need a referral to see an online psychiatrist?
No referral is needed. You complete a secure intake and book once care is open in your state.
How much does an online psychiatrist cost without insurance?
Initial evaluations start at $295 and follow-ups run $110 to $215, with an optional $49 per month membership where offered (Maine, once intake opens). shrinkMD is cash pay and provides a superbill on request.
Start depression care in Hastings
shrinkMD is opening first in Maine and Nebraska. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when booking opens in your state.
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