If you need help, should you see a psychiatrist or psychologist?

Conversations around mental health have started picking up pace over the past two decades in India. But confusion remains about who to consult during a crisis — a psychologist (also called a therapist or counsellor) or a psychiatrist? This lack of clarity can lead to delays in seeking help or getting the right kind of it, worsening symptoms, and an overall decline in mental wellbeing.

Such delays are not common and have serious consequences, says Dr Jyoti Kapoor, senior consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist at Maarga Mind Care, Gurgaon. “There are many patients who reach a psychiatrist after months or years of struggling because of stigma, fear of being diagnosed, or concerns about medication. Some may have been in therapy for a long time without a medical evaluation, while others may have tried to manage symptoms on their own,” she explains, saying that for such patients, symptoms tend to get more entrenched and conditions more severe. “What could have been treated relatively simply in the early stages may require more intensive intervention because of the delay. Work, relationships, and overall quality of life often deteriorates.”