Same-day psychiatrist appointments are a type of urgent mental health treatment. They can be for anyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are licensed and board-certified in psychiatric treatment. The goal of the psychiatrist is to detect, prevent and treat a variety of mental health disorders. Some of the most common mental health disorders that a psychiatrist deals with are obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, panic disorder and mood disorders. Someone suffering a mental health crisis may need to schedule a same-day psychiatry appointment. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need help, you can reach out to a psychiatrist or call or text 988, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for immediate support. If you don’t need immediate mental health treatment and would like to learn more about scheduling same-day appointments, what to expect from them and what comes after them, keep reading the information provided below.

What conditions might necessitate a same-day psychiatrist appointment?

There are many conditions that can necessitate a same-day appointment. It’s up to you to decide if your mental state warrants a visit with a psychiatrist. If you’re struggling, we encourage you to seek help. Here are some of the most common reasons why someone might reach out to a psychiatrist: 

• You’re experiencing suicidal thoughts or want to end your own life.
• You have thoughts of harming yourself.
• You have thoughts of harming others.
• You feel like you can’t control your emotions or are spiraling.
• You have an eating disorder.
• You have a substance use disorder.

What can you expect from a same-day psychiatrist appointment?

Have you already made a same-day psychiatrist appointment? You can anticipate your psychiatrist to perform several actions, including:

• Your psychiatrist will have you complete paperwork and several assessments — One of the first things you can expect from a same-day appointment is paperwork. You’ll be asked to fill out preliminary admission forms. Then you’ll fill out assessments to help determine the state of your condition. Your psychiatrist may use your assessments to help form a diagnosis.

• Your psychiatrist will ask you questions regarding your mental state and listen to your needs — They’ll want to know what it is that led you to make a same-day appointment. You can describe what you’ve been going through and discuss the urgency of your visit with your psychiatrist.

• Your psychiatrist will perform a basic physical examination — They’ll collect information on your vital signs including your heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight. Your psychiatrist may also ask to perform blood tests or other types of testing. This basic physical is done so that they can have a baseline of your physical condition.

• Your psychiatrist will come up with a plan for treatment and follow-up visits — You and your psychiatrist will go over all your mental health concerns. Once they feel as if they have a better understanding of your state, they’ll come up with a plan for treatment. They may give you medications to start taking or may prescribe other treatments to you.

• Your psychiatrist may recommend intensive treatment programs — After you’ve completed your first same-day psychiatry appointment, it’s likely that your psychiatrist will recommend some sort of intensive treatment program. The type of program they recommend will vary depending on your immediate needs and your personal circumstances.

How can I avoid needing same-day psychiatry appointments in the future?

If you are ever in need of a same-day psychiatry appointment, it’s likely that you will also need to begin a mental health treatment program during the recovery process and for continued care. Getting same-day psychiatric treatment may be enough to stabilize you for the time being, but continuing treatment is essential for your long-term health. It’s important that you know there are mental health treatment programs for teens and young adults in college who are struggling to deal with their symptoms. For the busy college student who needs help with their mental health, a virtual intensive outpatient program (vIOP) can be ideal. These provide flexible care to teens with busy schedules. Virtual intensive outpatient programs can provide convenience and privacy to students. It is meant to help those dealing with schoolwork and extracurriculars and struggling with a mental health disorder that needs attention. At Lightfully, we offer treatment for college students through our Lightfully University program. This program is designed to provide effective and accommodating mental health treatment to students who need a little extra help managing their mental health condition.

Lightfully can provide you with the virtual intensive outpatient treatment you need

Our mission at Lightfully is to provide high-quality mental health care to various types of clients. We believe in using a focused approach to process-based therapy. The framework of our clinic consists of evidence-based, clearly defined, data-driven and whole-person-centered care. We have experience working with various mental health disorders in people of all ages. That’s why we’re confident that we can improve your mental health even with a busy class schedule.

Lightfully offers multiple levels of care to both adults and teens: Residential Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), also referred to as our Day Treatment Program. Working with a client, we can determine the most likely cause of their mental health disorders and crises. Once we’ve established a diagnosis, we can create an individual-to-you treatment plan to help you gain some stability.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.