With mental health issues no longer considered a taboo, talking openly about mental illness has become all the more important. Whether you are experiencing a sudden panic attack or suffering from an ongoing, long-term issue like acute feelings of sadness or anxiety, receiving help immediately should be your top priority. With Yellow you can discover a number of psychiatrists who can offer you the necessary support and treatment needed during this difficult period. Have a look at contact details and availability to find a doctor nearest to you.

Discover a Local Psychiatrist

Specialised in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses such as anxiety and bipolar, psychiatrists are medical doctors who evaluate the symptoms of a patient to determine whether the individual is suffering from a physical or a mental issue or a combination of both. If you feel you need to speak to someone regarding your mental health, you may either opt to use one of the government health clinics found across the island or you may visit private psychiatrists. The most well-known public establishment that tackles mental health issues is Mount Carmel Hospital, however, every health centre is equipped with a team of professionals that include care workers and social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists who can offer a helping hand. Mater Dei also has a specialised Psychiatric Out-patients Department (P.O.P) which accepts scheduled or urgent appointments. The service is available to new cases, ongoing and complex cases, as well as those who were recently discharged from hospital. On the other hand, the Outreach Team visits patients at home.

What Are the Different Areas of Specialisation? 

Psychiatrists undergo years of training and many specialise in areas often related to a particular age group such as child and adolescent psychiatry or geriatric psychiatry. Others are involved in forensic psychiatry which means that they are required to report to a judge or jury in the courtroom, while they may also need to treat mentally unstable offenders. Some psychiatrists practice psychoanalysis and psychopharmacology, whereas psychiatry consultants who operate in the workplace are called occupational psychiatrists.

Mental Disorders

A disorder is considered mental when it causes mild to severe interference with the individual's thoughts or behaviour. Some conditions are so severe that they have debilitating effects on a person's daily life. For this reason, it is important to recognise warning signs and symptoms which may include sudden changes in behaviour or manic episodes, extreme anger, depression and suicidal thoughts to name a few. The range of mental disorders is very extensive. Some of the most common ones including bipolar disorder also known as manic depression which causes extreme emotional highs or lows and borderline personality disorder. On occasions, psychiatrists may also help patients with ailments like Alzheimer's, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood swings, anxiety disorders as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intense fear or specific phobias and eating disorders.

Diagnosis and Treatments Available 

The types of therapy that a psychiatrist may order will differ from patient-to-patient and will heavily depend on the illness being treated. In order to diagnose someone with a specific condition, the doctor will need to carry out a psychiatric evaluation. This includes taking a detailed personal and medical history, together with a physical examination, a CT scan, a MRI, a blood test or a combination of these. According to the diagnosis, the clinical psychiatrist may prescribe medicine or use other forms of treatment like psychotherapy. This usually consists of sessions whereby the patient and doctor discuss the condition, feelings and symptoms, while the doctor offers tips on how to cope with specific life situations and manage the disorder. When counseling or medication does not work, doctors may turn to less common forms of therapies. These tend to be more invasive and consist of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, non-invasive brain stimulation, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

Appointments and Pricing

A visit to a psychiatrist is strictly by appointment. In emergency cases, however, the doctor will let you know whether you need to be seen by him or her or whether you need to go directly to Mater Dei hospital. When it comes to pricing, psychiatrists will charge you on a per visit basis which is usually a flat rate. On the other hand, treatments carry additional costs and these depend on a variety of factors such as the condition being treated and the number of sessions required. Feeling overwhelmed? Have a look at our five simple ways to quickly reduce stress and anxiety.