Seeing an Online Psychiatrist – Does it Work?

Many people suffer from a mental health issue at some point in their lives. From anxiety and depression to insomnia or ADHD, there may be some form of a mental imbalance that you may need help with. Fortunately, there are now ways to seek out the advice you need without even setting foot outside your own home with online psychiatry.

Mental Health Treatment Online

Using the internet for personal help is not a new concept. It helps those who experience issues with busy schedules, mobility or even those who struggle to leave the house due to anxiety. Making an appointment for online psychiatry allows you to access the help you need simply by connecting via video to a mental health professional. At Positive Mind Works, our practitioners offer a range of services such as online psychiatry including medication prescription and management, along with counselling for a variety of issues.

What is an online psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist in Australia is a doctor. As a result, they are only mental health care professional who can legally prescribe mediation and correctly diagnose a mental health condition. This is because they first become a qualified medical doctor and then they branch off to specialise in psychiatry with many further years of training. If you’re not sure what the difference between an online psychiatrist and a psychologist is, check out our blog post here.

Our online psychiatrist sees patients via the internet using our very secure and high-grade platform that’s specifically designed for medical telehealth services. You can connect to your appointment by using a tablet, smartphone or computer and no software download is needed, you simply click on a link to join. This service is known as telepsychiatry and has many benefits.

Why should I see a psychiatrist online?

You may decide to see an online psychiatrist – particularly due to the recent coronavirus pandemic at the moment – if you:

• Are currently in lockdown and unable to leave your home
• Live too far away from your local practising psychiatrist
• Have children and find it difficult to arrange childcare
• Are elderly or disabled and find it hard to leave home
• travel a lot and are unable to see the same practitioner regularly
• have a physical or mental health condition that makes it difficult to leave home
• prefer the convenience of an appointment from your own home
• find it easier to communicate freely over video rather than face-to-face

Is seeing an online psychiatrist as effective as seeing someone in person?

According to research, yes. While telepsychiatry is relatively new in comparison to traditional appointments, studies show that success rates for treatment are very similar for both online and face-to-face therapies.

A study was carried out on 119 veterans where some were assigned to in-person treatment and others to telepsychiatry with their outcomes being comparable. These patients were also equally satisfied with their treatment. Furthermore, a review on the usefulness of telepsychiatry found it to be the equivalent of in-person sessions and described it as ‘an enabling and empowering form of service delivery, which promotes equality of access, and high levels of satisfaction among patients.’

What can online psychiatry help with?

While it’s true that not all conditions can be most effectively dealt with via online appointments, the vast majority can.

That said, here are a few reasons why many people visit an online psychiatrist:

• a prescription of psychiatric medication/medications
• a diagnosis of a mental health disorder
• a second opinion on a mental health diagnosis
• a change in your psychiatric medication

Some common conditions addressed by an online psychiatrist include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression (Postpartum or major depressive disorder)
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention deficit disorder (ADHD/ADD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

How do I see an online psychiatrist?

Accessing the help you need from an online psychiatrist in Australia and New Zealand is simple.

If you feel that you have a mental illness, a good place to start is with a visit to your GP. They will be able to advise whether it is necessary that you see a psychiatrist or a psychologist. If so, they will provide you with a referral to our online psychiatrist at Positive Mind Works.

However, you can also choose to book in to see one of our psychiatrists privately, with a GP referral or use your private health care plan to cover the costs. Simply call our office and you will be offered the next available appointment as well as a rundown on our fees.

For further and more detailed information on what to expect from your first online psychiatrist appointment at PMW, please read our blog on the subject here.

Ready to try online psychiatry?

If you’re ready to book an appointment with one of our experienced online psychiatrists, call our office on 1800 327 477 or drop us an email on: reception@positivemindworks.co

Meet Our Psychiatry Team