Section Three

A family doctor has completed a medical degree along with a specialization in family medicine. They can provide assessments, diagnoses, and medications, or refer you to another professional for more specialized mental health care. They’re a great first point of contact when seeking support, even if they just serve as a referral point to another professional. A good family doctor won’t just talk to you for five minutes and write you a prescription, but instead listen to what you need and help you get there.

Psychiatrists have also completed a medical degree, but they have a much deeper education in providing care for those experiencing mental health struggles. They can provide more specialized assessments and diagnoses, medication management, as well as therapy. While there are some exceptions, in general, a psychiatrist is the only medical professional that can offer both medication management and psychotherapy.

Clinical psychologists do not have a medical degree, but have advanced graduate-level training, typically obtaining a PhD (some regions allow people with only a Master’s degree to be registered as a Clinical Psychologist). They can provide specialized assessments and diagnoses, but in general, their primary focus is on providing psychotherapy to help improve a client’s mental health.

These are generic titles that refer to mental health providers who have received some level of training in therapeutic techniques. In general, the use of these titles is not regulated, and so a practitioner’s level of education could range from a diploma to a graduate degree. Their focus is on providing therapy, although they have far less training than a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

• They can still be a great option, especially for an ongoing therapeutic relationship, but it’s important to do some research and find someone who has a background that you’re comfortable with.
• To ensure a standard quality of care, the HeadsUpGuys Therapist Directory only includes therapists with sufficient training in mental health. This means a minimum of a Master’s degree in North America, or a Level 4 training program in the UK in a relevant discipline (such as clinical or counselling psychology, therapeutic counselling, or social work) at an accredited institution, and have membership, licensure, or accreditation with an appropriate governing body or professional organization, where applicable.

Formally called psychotherapy, this is one of the most widely-used and effective treatments for depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. [1 2] In talk therapy, therapists collaborate with their clients to help them develop greater insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, learn strategies and skills to better manage their emotions and make better decisions, and develop and maintain strong relationships.

Depending on a guy’s preferences and severity of symptoms, medication may be recommended. While medications do come with side effects, they can be a very important part of treatment, especially when the person is having a really hard time functioning. They can help raise your baseline for what you feel capable of, which can then make it easier to make the most of other forms of treatment, particularly therapy.

In addition to therapy and medication, there are many other things someone can do to support their mental health. While these all have different levels of scientific support – and shouldn’t be considered standalone forms of treatment – they can still offer some real benefits, especially in tandem with things like therapy or medication. These include:

• Peer-led support groups
• Physical activity and exercise
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Journaling and other cognitive exercises
• Art, music, or animal therapy
• Dietary interventions with herbs and supplements
• Acupuncture

These services are provided to those seeking help through urgent care or the emergency room at a hospital because of intense thoughts of suicide. Inpatient treatment offers around-the-clock care for patients while they stay in the hospital, and involve of a variety of health professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses, psychologists). The actual form that treatment takes will be a mix medications, individual therapy, and group therapy.

These lines offer non-judgmental and confidential support via phone or text. Crisis lines were created specifically to support people dealing with health] issues like anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide. Crisis lines are operated by volunteers trained in mental health, active listening, and crisis and suicide assessment. Check out this page on our website to find the lines in your area.