Psychiatrists are doctors who are specialists in mental illness. They are in charge of the treatment of people with mental health problems in hospital and in the community.

How do I get referred to a psychiatrist?

Usually through your GP or by being referred by Social Services. You can ask your GP to be referred. Or, your GP may suggest that he or she refers you to the Mental Health services.

If you are already a client of the mental health services and have a key worker you will be told how to get in touch with them if you need help.

In a crisis or emergency, you can be referred without having asked to be referred. This can happen, for example, if your behaviour has become dangerous to yourself or to others.
In these situations, you could be referred by a GP, by an Approved Social Worker, or by a doctor in a general hospital.

What happens if I'm referred to a Mental Health Services Out-Patients Department?

You will normally have an appointment for an hour, either with a Junior Doctor or a Consultant Psychiatrist. A Junior Doctor will always speak with the Consultant who is in charge. A plan for your treatment will be developed.

You'll normally be offered follow-up appointments. These are generally booked for 15 - 20 minutes, but the actual time varies considerably. Nowadays, psychiatrists are often working under quite a lot of time pressure.

How long will I have to wait to see a Psychiatrist?

In Sheffield, the waiting time is usually 1 - 3 months. However, as soon as your name has been referred to the Mental Health Service, the Community Mental Health Team will get in touch with you. You may be seen by someone - usually a Community Psychiatric Nurse - before you're referred to a psychiatrist. It may be that in the end it's not necessary to see a psychiatrist.

What questions will I be asked?

The Mental Health service also attempts to assess whether there is a risk-either to yourself- or to other people because of your condition.

What happens if I don't turn up for my appointment?

It depends on the nature of your problem or illness.

If the Service thinks that you may be at risk, then a Community Psychiatric Nurse or your GP will be asked to contact you.

What Happens if the Service decides there is a Serious Problem?

The Mental Health Service will look at what kind of support a person has in their life. They will assess whether any risk that a person presents - to either themselves or others - could be managed without them being admitted to hospital. If there does not seem to be the support around that a person needs, or the problem they present is so immediate or serious, then possibilities include becoming an Outpatient at a Day Service, or admission to Hospital.

How is a diagnosis of Mental Illness made, and under what circumstances?

The process of diagnosis normally involves a period of assessment and possibly a trial of medication. A psychiatrist is required by the Government to make a diagnosis for an In-Patient. This is not a requirement for out-patient

What is the procedure for telling people of their Diagnosis?

A psychiatrist will be careful about how much he or she speaks of the medical labels used in diagnosis. Sometimes these labels don't really help, and can be frightening.

Am I likely to be prescribed drugs to treat a Mental Health difficulty? If so, under what circumstances?

Prescription of medication for Mental Health problems may be started by a person's GP. The prescription of medication depends on whether a person is showing recognisable symptoms of mental illness. Many people are distressed, but not ill - and medication may be inappropriate.

Am I likely to be prescribed Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Within the 16 - 65 age range, this form of treatment is now used less than it used to be. It is still used more in the Elderly Service, because of the consequences of severe depression in elderly people - and their constitution may not be strong enough to withstand other forms of treatment.

How long does Admission to Hospital take?

When the case is acute, it should be the same day. The number of beds available is below what many people consider to be the appropriate level needed and discussions are taking place about the numbers and use of in-patient beds. People may have to wait in the police cells, at a GPs' surgery, or in their own home before there is a bed available for them.

As an In-Patient, what sort of contact can I expect with a Psychiatrist?

A patient will normally see a consultant about once a week, for perhaps 15 or 20 minutes. Most of the contact you will have during a stay in hospital will be with the junior medical staff on the ward.

What Rights do Patient’s, carers and their relatives and friends, have to information about their case?

Psychiatrists are normally happy to speak to carers and relatives. They will not, though, pass on information without the patient's permission. They will encourage carers to be present at Care Programme meetings, and they are attempting to hold these at GPs' surgeries.

Informing the GP of a Patient's Progress

Normally a psychiatrist will write to the GP after every visit a patient makes. They will check with the patient if they have any objection to this.

What records are kept, and who has access to these records?

The Community Psychiatric Nurse keeps separate records to the psychiatrist - and the CPN has no right of access to the psychiatrist's records. Patients have the right of access to records concerning them from 1991 onwards.

The Mental Health Services have the right to withhold information which it decides could be harmful to the health of the patient.

What can I expect from the Mental Health Services?

You need to be realistic about what you can expect from the Service. Mental Illness can go on for a long time. You may often feel like you're standing still. People often get upset by how little they feel they are improving.