why see a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in treating mental illness and emotional distress using medication and talking therapies.
Examples of questions I can help with:
Would medication help me?
Do I have a mental illness?
Are these mood swings normal?
How can I stop self-harming?
Is my child on the autistic spectrum?
How can I help my depressed son?
Do you know someone who needs help?
Seeing someone you care about struggling with their mental health and not knowing how best to support them is very difficult. Sometimes they don't recognise the problem and don't want help. They may be scared. You can help by listening, encouraging them to see a professional and helping them get to the appointment.
it's a time of Huge uncertainty
Anxiety, depression, self harm, low self-esteem and eating disorders have been rising quickly in young people, with the pandemic magnifying this.
Pressure to look perfect, perform academically and prove yourself can be crushing. Students don't even know how they will be assessed or judged. Cheap drugs are easy to obtain even though jobs aren't.
Despite incredible technology and ways of keeping in touch, loneliness is common and a huge risk factor for mental illness and early death - even bigger than obesity.
Suicide remains the biggest killer of young men.
Psychiatrists can help make sense of the situation and provide hep - or signpost to others who can.