What is a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are experts in mental health. They specialise in diagnosing and treating people with mental illness.
Psychiatrists have a deep understanding of physical and mental health – and how they affect each other.
They help people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and addiction.
What does a psychiatrist do?
Psychiatrists assess all of your mental and physical symptoms.
They make a diagnosis and work with you to develop a management plan for your treatment and recovery.
Psychiatrists provide psychological treatment, prescribe medications and do procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy.
As part of their work, a psychiatrist can:
– provide urgent care for a sudden mental illness
– help you to manage a long-term mental health condition
– provide advice about lifestyle changes
– work with you individually, or with you and your partner, family or carers
– provide second opinions and advice to other doctors and health professionals
– refer you to other health professionals
– admit you to hospital if required.