Which Hospital For Mental Health?
Mental health is a key factor in how you think, feel and function. It’s vital to your relationships, personal and emotional well-being and to contributing to society.
Hospitals are sometimes the best place for people who are suffering from mental health problems to get the help they need. Here’s what you need to know about which hospital is right for you.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. They complete four years of training after completing medical school and are then licensed to practice medicine.
Psychiatrists prescribe medications and use psychotherapy to treat patients with a wide range of mental illnesses. Some are specially trained in the treatment of severe depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. They may also use electroconvulsive therapy or ECT.
Psychiatric nurses
Psychiatric nurses assess, diagnose, and treat people with mental health problems. They work in hospitals and community clinics and may specialize in treating patients with certain illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
They also provide care for geriatrics, addiction, and eating disorders. Psychiatric nurses must be detail-oriented, conscientious, and able to manage multiple priorities at once. They also need to have good self-care practices.
Psychiatric social workers
Psychiatric social workers are clinically trained professionals who work in a wide range of mental health settings. They provide essential case management services and support clients with emotional and behavioral problems, including substance abuse and eating disorders.
These professionals need communication and listening skills to understand clients’ challenges, explain treatment options, and refer them to resources and services. They also need compassion and patience under stress.
Psychiatric psychologists
A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional who diagnoses and treats emotional, behavioral and mental illnesses. They can work directly with patients or conduct research.
They can use psychological testing and interviews to help patients identify problems and develop treatment plans. They cannot prescribe medications, but they can provide counseling and psychotherapy.
Psychiatrists are licensed medical doctors who have completed specialized training in diagnosing and treating mental disorders. They can diagnose and treat all types of psychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders or geriatric psychiatry.
Psychiatric occupational therapists
Occupational therapists are trained to improve an individual’s ability to function in their daily life. They specialize in addressing mental illness, physical disabilities, and developmental challenges.
OTs work to help individuals return to meaningful activities, such as going to school, working, or spending time with their family and friends. They focus on enabling their clients to re-engage in useful occupations through skills development, positive habits and routines, setting therapy goals, using cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT), and understanding underlying physiological influences.
Psychiatric speech therapists
Mental health is a state of well-being that can be affected by biological, individual and social influences. It also affects how a person deals with stress, interpersonal relationships and decision-making.
Speech pathologists (SPs) are often involved in the assessment, diagnosis and management of communication and swallowing disorders that are comorbid with a range of mental health conditions. Despite this, research suggests that SPs are not routinely included in interprofessional mental health teams in Australia.
Psychiatric physical therapists
Psychiatric physical therapists work to improve the patient’s mental and physical well-being. They help patients develop skills that are not only physical but also social and cognitive.
Physiotherapists are trained to assess, diagnose and treat complex mental health problems. They provide psychosocial and behavioural support for those with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, drug abuse and intellectual disabilities.
Psychiatric physiotherapists
Physiotherapists have an established role in assessing and treating musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and respiratory conditions, as well as mental health disorders. They are also able to advise on a range of aspects of wellbeing such as exercise, healthy eating, weight management, smoking cessation and psychological approaches.
Physiotherapists are often involved in the treatment and care of people who suffer from psychiatric problems as part of an integrated mental health team. This integration needs to be optimised.
Psychiatric therapists
Psychiatric therapists are mental health professionals who treat a wide range of psychological disorders and emotional problems. They may work with patients in a variety of settings, including private offices, hospitals, and schools.
Psychiatric therapists provide psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” and help patients change their thoughts and behaviors. They can also refer patients to other medical specialists, such as psychiatrists or psychologists.
