A regional outpatient service that provides a safe, effective treatment option using high-powered magnetic stimulation to treat adults (18+) living with depression that have not responded to medications.
Last updated: April 20, 2026
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an effective, evidence-based, and non-invasive outpatient treatment for individuals with depression that have not responded to medications.
TMS is a type of therapy that stimulates the brain using magnets. It is used to treat depression and sometimes other mental health conditions.
The TMS machine sends short magnetic pulses through the skull. The pulses are aimed at the small area of the brain that affects mood. The pattern of repeating pulses stimulates certain brain cells to become more active and others to become less active. This helps improve depression.
This type of therapy can be a good treatment option for people whose moderate to severely impairing depression has not significantly improved after trying at least 2 different antidepression medications.
Clients can expect:
- Each treatment visit to take about 30 minutes.
- The treatment schedule to consist of 5 treatments per week over a period of 4 to 6 weeks, totaling 20 to 30 treatments.
- To resume regular daily activities, including driving, after treatment.
Access
Eligibility
This service supports people who are:
- Currently receiving support from a mental health or substance use program led by Fraser Health.
- 18-years-old or older.
- Able to independently, or with minor support, get in and out of the TMS chair.
- Capable of providing consent.
- Experiencing a major depressive episode that has not responded to at least two different antidepressant medications with an underlying diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder.
This service is not available to people who:
- Have implanted metallic hardware or devices in the head or neck.
- Have metal objects in or near the head that are not firmly fixed in place and cannot be removed for each treatment.
- Are admitted to a hospital or treatment facility for intensive care such as in emergency, acute inpatient, tertiary inpatient, or subacute inpatient unit or facility.
- Have had a recent seizure or inadequately managed seizure-disorder.
- Have had recent or current suicidal thoughts or behaviours.
- Have psychotic symptoms.
- Have an active substance use disorder.
- Have a history of poor response to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).