Most of us approach our family doctor for any help in relation to mental health concerns. Those of us affected by depression or anxiety go to our family physician for help who will in turn refer us to a professional psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or addiction counselor. In an emergency, we are wont to approach the local health center or unit or hospital.

1. Get the Best of Psychologist Therapy Services
Most of us approach our family doctor for any help in relation to mental health
concerns. Those of us affected by depression or anxiety go to our family physician
for help who will in turn refer us to a professional psychiatrist, clinical psychologist
or addiction counselor. In an emergency, we are wont to approach the local health
center or unit or hospital.
In the last twenty years, the mental health service has changed considerably and
has resulted in the development of greater care and a more supportive
frameworks to individuals with mental and psychiatric illnesses.
Some countries and smaller cities may offer a range of community-based mental
health services. With a consultant psychiatrist, registrar in psychiatry and nurses
the mental health team in these places offer services and care in the areas
addiction counselling, psychologist help, occupational therapy, social worker
support etc.
When Referred to a Psychiatrist
There are many ways that agencies and doctors offer psychiatric treatment.
Usually, there will be an outpatient appointment whereby the psychiatrist will meet
you to look into your current mental health issues. The psychiatrist will help you
evaluate the treatment options available which could also mean a course of
medication.

2. What are the Various Treatment Options Available Today?
Out-patient care i.e. clients referred by GPs, day hospitals, home visits from the
mental health team, referral to addiction counselling services, referral to clinical
psychological services, access to occupational therapy services or social work
and referral back to your GP for continuous care. These are the many treatment
options available currently and the model of operation and method may vary from
state to state or country to country. In-patient care which is normally of a short
duration is provided when the patient is admitted to a hospital unit.
Admitting the Patient to Hospital
People who have mental health problems get treated without hospital visits or get
admitted to hospitals by their own choice. Those who get themselves admitted are
considered voluntary patients while on the other hand there are those who to get
admitted against their will are this is referred to as “involuntary admission”.
The involuntary admission is done only if found to be completely necessary and
these rules are governed by law.
There are the many out-patient treatment centers and community services that
cater to treat and support individuals in their own surroundings and homes and the
family doctors are mostly involved in providing this service.
Out-Patient Clinic: This is the clinic that most people attend for an assessment or
follow-up or for continuing the management of the person’s mental illness. These
have their base in community health centers and staffed by consultant psychiatrist,
community psychiatrist nurses and other health care members as required.

3. The consultant psychiatrist normally leads the team and will be held fully
responsible and accountable for the treatment of the person whether within the
community or in a hospital.
Day Care Hospital
People with any mental illness may attend this treatment and avail the facility from
the comfort of their homes for an assessment, treatment or nursing care. This is
seen as an alternate to anyone otherwise requiring admission into a hospital.
They are for those who are mentally unwell but can be cared for from home as
well.
Apart from the centres we also need to define the doctors and the kind of
treatment they provide.
Psychiatrist
They are the medical doctors who have specialized in mental illnesses. They are
responsible for the mental health of the patients in terms of their medication,
physical symptoms etc. and also involve themselves in the counseling process. A
psychiatrist normally works in a psychiatric hospital or unit as part of the care
team but can also have his own private practice. Your GP will be able to refer you
to a good psychiatrist, who will usually assess you in an outpatient clinic, form a
diagnosis and then enter into treating the person accordingly. If found absolutely
necessary the psychiatrist will advise the patient to get himself admitted in a
hospital. This will happen only if the symptoms are found to be severe.
Psychologist
This is a person who is trained in the study of human behaviour and tries to
understand feelings, thoughts and behaviour and explain the same to the
individual client. They are usually not qualified to medicate and only provide
counseling and they work in a clinic, community or counseling center.
They can provide assessment and treatment of a psychological nature that
would include assessment of the personality of the person through structured
interviews – problems such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues,
psycho-sexual and marital problems etc. They help their clients examine the
effect their illness has on their everyday lives and methods to cope with these.

4. Clinical Psychologists
They have a special qualification in mental health and other issues and work as
part of the mental health team in a hospital. They are involved in the assessment
and counseling therapy process. They may also provide family therapy if
required and a particular approach may be used for a specific problem such as a
cognitive behaviour approach for phobias etc.
Contact Information
www.mindzone.in
No.58/2, 1st Avenue Road
Shastri Nagar
Adayar
Chennai-600020.
+91 9444297058
+91 9176055660
Email : mailmindzone@gmail.com