Travel Insurance with Depression

Depression is incredibly common – about one in five Brits has depression severe enough to require treatment over the course of a lifetime. While depression may rob you, at its worst, of the ability to enjoy life, it certainly doesn't mean you should avoid holidays. In fact, many people with depression find that being unable to get away from their problems makes their symptoms worse.

For many people, depression happens at a certain point in life (perhaps when you're going through major life events or have stresses you can't solve). But for many others, depression is a fact of life – it can be ongoing or recur for no apparent reason. Regardless of which category you fall into, you need to take a few factors into account when you're travelling.

• Regardless of whether you have symptoms of depression, it's essential to declare your history of depression when applying for insurance. Not declaring the fact that you've had depression – even if you don't currently have any symptoms – could invalidate your insurance.
• Your insurance costs will be affected by the severity of your depression (for instance, whether you've needed hospital admission or compulsory admission for treatment, and whether/how long you've been under the care of a specialist). For many people with a history of mild depression, your condition shouldn't affect your insurance. However, it's always worth finding a specialist travel insurer who can look at your answers in detail to determine your travel insurance levels.

If you do currently have depression:

• Have a plan for what to do if you become more depressed while you're away. That could include having contact details for your own therapist or doctor, or details of local therapists in the area you're visiting.
  
  
• Check your destination's policy on medicines. Most antidepressant medications are allowed if you're travelling abroad – but there may be conditions or exceptions. For instance, some medications to reduce anxiety aren't allowed in some countries. It's really important that if you are taking medication for mental health problems, you check the details on the foreign embassy website of the country or countries you're visiting.
  
  
• Make sure you have enough medication to cover the whole of your trip, with some spare in case of emergencies. You'll need to order any repeat prescriptions from your GP well before you leave and should carry your medicine in your hand luggage. You may also need a doctor's letter, depending on the country and the medication. Our article on carrying medication abroad gives more details on what you need to think about.
  
  
• No matter how well you feel, don't adjust the dose of your medicine, or stop without a doctor's advice, particularly just before you travel. While most people can stop antidepressants without problems by following instructions from their doctor, some people develop unpleasant symptoms when they cut down or stop antidepressants.
  
  
• Time your travel (and your activities). Many people with depression find their symptoms are worse in the mornings. So, trying to leave home, check-in or be on time for day trips that depart early can be a challenge. If your mood tends to improve as the day goes on, plan activities for later in the day – including any flights.
  
  
• Don't overdo it. While holidays are supposed to be fun, they can also be stressful, especially if they involve a major change from your normal routine or a lot of activities. Even socialising can be exhausting if you have depression. Don't try and cram too much into your holiday and include some downtime in your itinerary.
  
  
• Adjust on your return. Leave yourself at least a couple of days after you return to adjust before you go back to work. Remember that travel, including travel home, can be delayed, or disrupted. The last thing you need is to get back a day late after stressful delays and have to plunge straight back into your day job.
  
  
• Consider your triggers. Is your depression worse if you're sleep deprived? If so, consider a trip that doesn't involve changes in time zones or the risk of jet lag.