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Looking for an online psychiatrist? HelpGuide’s editorial staff surveyed real users and personally tested and reviewed the best virtual psychiatry platforms, rating them based on a wide range of factors, including quality of care, affordability, privacy, and user experience.
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Online psychiatry can be a convenient way to find mental health care and manage your medications from the comfort of home. With so many platforms offering psychiatric care and medication management, though, it can be difficult to know which service is the right one for you. To help you find a psychiatric provider that offers professional and responsible care, HelpGuide’s editorial staff gathered information on 47 online psychiatry platforms, scored them on 104 data points, surveyed over 1,000 users, and personally tested the 13 highest-rated services.
We found that:
| Platform | Known for | Copay | Self-pay | Pricing structure | Our satisfactory score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grow Therapy | Largest network; many provider options | ~$21 | Ranges from $100 to $300 depending on provider | Pay per session | |
| Talkspace | Quick insurance benefit confirmation; auto-matching with provider | ~$15 | $299 initial appointment, $175 per follow-up | Pay per session | |
Brightside | Crisis care; coordinated therapy & psychiatric care | ~$25 | $95 for psychiatry; or $349 for psychiatry and therapy | Monthly subscription or pay per session | |
| Talkiatry | Easy sign-up; focus specifically on psychiatry | ~$30 | Insurance only | Pay per session | |
| MD Live | Variety of specialists aside from psychiatrists | $0-15 | $299 initial appointment, $159 per follow-up | Pay per session |
Since its founding in 1999, HelpGuide.org has been an independent nonprofit providing trustworthy mental health information to millions of people each year. Our content has always been focused on delivering accurate, unbiased, and well-researched health information that our readers can rely on for actionable steps to improve how they feel. We decided to bring those same principles to reviewing online psychiatry services.
HelpGuide’s editors, writers, and support staff spent hundreds of hours over three months conducting user surveys, gathering data on 47 online psychiatry services, and personally testing 13 platforms. We spent many more hours consulting with mental health experts, including members of our Professional Advisory Council, about how to most accurately assess and review online psychiatry sites.
We began by researching 47 online psychiatry platforms, evaluating each on a wide range of critical factors, including provider choice, cost transparency, insurance acceptance, data privacy policies, and the availability of benefits like financial aid and unlimited messaging in between sessions.
Our team analyzed pricing models, cancellation policies, platform certifications, and HIPAA compliance to help identify which services offer the best value and safest user experience. We also assessed how easy it was to access psychiatric services for people with different needs including those with disabilities, users in rural areas, and people specifically seeking care from someone of the same cultural background.
To refine our methodology, we consulted with psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, including members of our Professional Advisory Council. They reviewed our evaluation criteria and helped us refine how we scored platforms for quality, safety, and ethical standards. Their input ensured our rankings reflect what truly matters in a telehealth setting, such as clinical effectiveness, professional integrity, and provider trust and rapport.
HelpGuide is run by a group of staff who are located in just three different states. So rather than relying solely on our own experiences, we spent months seeking out the opinions of online psychiatry users from all across the country. We ended up with an in-depth survey of over 1,000 real online psychiatry users that measured factors such as value for money, ease of use, provider quality, and overall satisfaction.
We asked users everything from how online psychiatry compared to in-person care to the length of the signup process to any technical issues that disrupted their experience. We discovered if they felt comfortable recommending a platform to loved ones and how much their treatment helped to improve how they felt. This detailed feedback about what matters most to actual online psychiatry users helped shape our scoring methodology and determine our final recommendations.
After narrowing down all the platforms we researched to 13 options that met our scoring qualifications, we conducted real world testing. To really understand the user experience, HelpGuide staff members tested the online psychiatry services. We used the platforms as regular users would, without disclosing who we worked for or what our aims were. We solely wanted to experience each platform as regular users would.
On each platform, we went through the intake and matching process and booked and attended an online psychiatry session. We assessed how well the platform functioned, the crisis resources in place, and the provider quality—how well they explained treatment benefits and drawbacks, potential medication side effects, and how often we should be reassessed. On each platform, we messaged our psychiatric care providers between sessions, contacted customer support, and examined the service’s privacy and security policies. If a platform offered extra features, such as worksheets, journals, or meditations, we tested them all.
Finding the right online psychiatrist can often involve talking to different providers to find someone you’re comfortable with, so we also went through the process of switching providers. Finally, we closed our accounts, noting any billing and refund issues.
As we were testing online psychiatry platforms, each member of staff kept a weekly journal recording our experiences. At the end of testing, we each completed detailed questionnaires about the services, which helped us compare the different platforms based on the same objective criteria. Finally, we shared our experiences to bring you our selections for the best online psychiatrist platforms.
Therapist quality and matching accuracy
Pricing and value for money
Session types and communication options
Ease of use and platform navigation
Insurance coverage and payment options
Privacy and security
Customer service experience
| Who Grow Therapy is most suitable for: | Those wanting an easy-to-use platform and large network of provider options |
| Starting price: | $100-300 without insurance; average copay $21 per session |
| Insurance accepted? | Yes – all major plans, and Medicare and Medicaid |
| Financial aid: | Yes |
| Session formats: | Video and messaging |
| Time to first session: | 87% of surveyed users had first appointment in less than a week |
| Services: | Psychiatry, medication management |
| Therapy services: | Yes |
Tested by: Chris Saranchock, Director of Operations & Multimedia
Grow Therapy is an online platform available in all 50 US states. It offers users a pay-per-session model, and allows you to select from a list of therapy and psychiatry professionals. Grow Therapy accepts over 125 insurance plans, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and Aetna, alongside Medicare and Medicaid.
If you’re looking for the most options, we highly recommend Grow Therapy. It has a network of over 26,000 providers, allows you to search for in-person or virtual visits, and supports over 125 insurance plans. Surveyed psychiatry users also reported that this platform was the easiest to use. All of this points to a platform that is incredibly accessible and that caters to a wide range of needs.
Pros
Cons
Bottom line
95 percent of survey respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the medication management and psychiatric care they received from Grow Therapy. This matches up with our hands-on experience with the platform, which was overwhelmingly positive.
Our total score (Based on expert testing and user feedback)
4.7
We surveyed 100 users of Grow Therapy’s psychiatry services across the United States and had our in-house staff test the platform. Among surveyed users as well as our staff, Grow Therapy generally received higher ratings than other platforms. The platform was easy to use, offered high-quality providers, and responsive customer support.
Survey Highlights:
“The experience has been a complete life changer for me.”
Survey respondent
Our survey found Grow Therapy offers:
HelpGuide tester ratings:
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“If you need online therapy this is a good platform. Everything was clear and the therapists were empathetic and wanted to help you.”
Chris Saranchock, Director of Operations & Multimedia
Select Medication Management
Enter location and insurance
Browse through provider list
| Who Talkspace is most suitable for: | Those wanting to check their insurance coverage before creating an account |
| Starting price: | $299 initial appointment and $175 per follow-up; average copay is $15 |
| Insurance accepted? | Yes – all major plans |
| Financial aid: | Discounted pricing for bundling multiple psychiatry sessions |
| Session formats: | Video and messaging |
| Time to first session: | 93% of surveyed users had first appointment in less than a week |
| Services: | Psychiatry, medication management |
| Therapy services: | Yes |
Tested by: Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Talkspace covers the entire United States as well as other countries such as Canada and the UK (its prices can be listed in either USD $ or GBP £), meaning it has a wider international reach than other brands reviewed here. Since prescribing medications is regulated differently by other countries’ health care systems, though, you’ll likely need to see a prescriber who’s licensed in your country to access prescription medications outside the US.
We like that Talkspace accepts major insurance plans and allows you to check if you’re covered (and how much your copay will be) before having to create an account. The platform also automatically matches you with a provider, which is a benefit if you don’t want to spend time browsing through a list of options. The platform has been criticized for privacy issues in the past, but our staff member felt secure that the platform had protected his information. We were also impressed with the quality of psychiatric care on Talkspace.
Pros
Cons
Bottom line
The ability to verify your insurance benefits and copay makes Talkspace a wise choice if you want to explore your psychiatry options. Additionally, 91 percent of survey respondents said they’d recommend Talkspace’s online psychiatry services to a friend or colleague, a higher recommendation rate than the other platforms on this list.
Our total score (Based on expert testing and user feedback)
4.6
We surveyed 100 users of Talkspace’s psychiatry services across the United States and had one of our in-house staff test the platform. In both our survey results and our testing experience, Talkspace scored highly in user satisfaction. 91 percent of those who used Talkspace’s online psychiatry services would recommend the service to a friend or colleague. While our testing experience revealed issues with getting insurance approved for psychiatry, 87 percent of the users we surveyed had an easy or very easy signup process.
“My therapist and psychiatrist worked together seamlessly, which was really helpful.”
Survey respondent
“My provider was kind, responsive, and really helped me understand my treatment.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“Talkspace was unable to confirm my coverage for psychiatry so I had to pay out of pocket.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
“I appreciated how cautious my provider was about prescribing medication unnecessarily . . . and why she didn’t want to leave a long gap between appointments.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Talkspace’s sign-up takes less than 20 minutes for most people (74 percent), and 89 percent thought the process for getting started with medication and meeting a provider was clear or very clear. Here’s what happens:
Check insurance acceptance and copay.
Create an account.
Answer questionnaires about health history, current symptoms, and provider preferences.
Get matched with a provider.
| Brightside Health is most suitable for: | Those looking for an affordable self-pay option, crisis care, or coordinated therapy and psychiatry |
| Starting price: | $95 per month; average copay is $25 |
| Insurance accepted? | Yes – all major plans |
| Financial aid: | For some employees |
| Session formats: | Video |
| Time to first session: | 83% of surveyed users had first appointment in less than a week |
| Services: | Psychiatry, medication management |
| Therapy services: | Yes |
Tested by: Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
Tested by: Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Brightside Health specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and related conditions, such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), sleep problems, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It also offers crisis support care to those referred by a Brightside provider. It’s available in all 50 states and Washington D.C., and accepts major insurance plans such as Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, and UnitedHealthcare. It also accepts some Medicare and Medicaid plans.
We liked that Brightside allows for standalone therapy or psychiatry, or the option to bundle them together, so your providers can better coordinate your care. In addition, the quick insurance approval and short wait-times for appointments will appeal to anyone feeling overwhelmed and wanting to start treatment as soon as possible. While Brightside doesn’t allow you to learn more than a provider’s name and license, our staff members testing the platform were very satisfied with the level of care, as were the users we surveyed—83 percent would recommend the platform to a friend or colleague.
Pros
Cons
Bottom line
Although it accepts insurance, Brightside is also an affordable choice if you need to pay out-of-pocket. It’s a great platform if you want to benefit from a combined therapy and medication management plan or need care for severe depression or anxiety.
Our total score (Based on expert testing and user feedback)
4.3
We surveyed 100 users of Brightside Health’s psychiatry services across the United States and had two of our in-house staff test the platform. In both our survey results and our testing experience, we found that Brightside offered very short wait times–with same- and next-day appointments often available. Not being able to read a provider’s bio before booking an appointment was a major frustration for our staff members, but both they and our survey respondents appreciated the quality of care—83 percent felt the platform had helped them make good or substantial progress towards their goals.
“Brightside offered a simple and effective way to access psychiatric care.”
Survey respondent
“I felt seen and understood throughout my experience with Brightside.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“Good way to talk to a psychiatrist quickly and possibly get on medication.”
Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
“I asked detailed questions about the medications and how they worked, and she was able to answer them easily.”
Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
Brightside’s sign-up takes less than 20 minutes for most people (71 percent), and 81 percent felt confident or very confident that the platform would protect their personal information. Here’s what happens:
Create an account.
Take the free online assessment.
Choose psychiatry, therapy or both.
Choose a provider.
Confirm insurance coverage.
| Who Talkiatry is most suitable for: | Insured users looking for easy sign-up and psychiatry and medication management but not therapy |
| Starting price: | Typically $30 copay |
| Insurance accepted? | Yes – all major plans |
| Financial aid: | No |
| Session formats: | Video and messaging |
| Time to first session: | 81% of surveyed users had first appointment in less than a week |
| Services: | Psychiatry, medication management |
| Therapy services: | No (only with referral) |
Tested by: Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Talkiatry is a virtual psychiatry platform that specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, child and adolescent care, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and pregnancy and postpartum issues. It is not available in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, North Dakota, and Wyoming, or anywhere outside of the U.S. Talkiatry accepts users with health insurance only, including Medicare. While the platform does have some therapists, these are only accessible if your psychiatrist believes you need therapy as part of your treatment.
If you have insurance, are more interested in treatment that’s focused on medication management, and the platform is available in your area (it’s not on offer in every state), Talkiatry offers a good route to virtual psychiatry. It also has a streamlined sign-up process, which can be appealing to anyone looking for an easy start.
Pros
Cons
Bottom line
Talkiatry is a solid choice for psychiatry and medication management if you have insurance and it’s available in your state. Although sign-up is easy, note that wait times may be a little longer than some other platforms and adding therapy to your treatment may involve signing up for a separate online therapy platform (or seeing a therapist in person).
Our total score (Based on expert testing and user feedback)
4.1
We surveyed 100 Talkiatry users across the United States and had one of our in-house team test the platform. In both our survey results and our testing experience, we found that the greatest strength of Talkiatry was the quality of psychiatric care provided and value for money. However, the service isn’t available in every state, it only accepts insurance, and the wait to see a provider can be a little longer than some other platforms—19 percent of our survey respondents waited a week or more for an appointment.
“Talkiatry made accessing psychiatric care easier than I imagined.”
Survey respondent
“Talkiatry exceeded my expectations in terms of accessibility and care.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Psychiatrist responsiveness rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Progress towards goals rating:
“I felt like I was listened to and not just shuffled through a system to get as many patients as possible.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
“Of the platforms I’ve tested, the psychiatrist I found on Talkiatry was the most thorough and insightful. We covered a lot of ground in the 45-minute session.”
Lawrence Robinson, Managing Editor
Talkiatry’s sign-up takes 10-20 minutes for most people (73 percent), but nearly one in five (19 percent) waited at least a week for their first appointment. Here’s what happens:
Verify email.
Enter personal details.
Take the free online assessment.
Choose a provider.
Verify insurance.
| Who MD Live is most suitable for: | Insured users looking for other medical care in addition to psychiatry |
| Starting price: | $299 initial appointment and $159 per follow-up; $0 to $30 copay |
| Insurance accepted? | Yes – all major plans |
| Financial aid: | Available |
| Session formats: | Video and audio |
| Time to first session: | 82% of surveyed users had first appointment in less than a week |
| Services: | Psychiatry, medication management, medical care |
| Therapy services: | Yes |
Tested by: Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
MD Live offers virtual medical care across the United States, including urgent care, primary care, dermatology, and mental health services (both psychiatry and therapy). The platform accepts major health insurance plans. It offers flexible appointment times, including weekends and evenings, and most users (82 percent from our survey) are able to book an appointment within six days.
If you have insurance, MD Live can be good value for money, although paying out-of-pocket isn’t cheap. It’s also a useful platform if your needs extend beyond therapy or psychiatry, as its network includes other kinds of specialists. We—and most of our survey respondents—were impressed by the quality of mental health providers.
Pros
Cons
Bottom line
This is an easy-to-use platform with a variety of providers and short appointment wait times. However, know that the platform lacks a messaging feature to communicate with your provider between appointments and seems prone to technical glitches.
Our total score (Based on expert testing and real user feedback)
4.1
We surveyed 100 MD Live psychiatry users across the United States and had one of our in-house staff test the platform. In our survey results, ease of use, appointment wait times, and provider quality on MD Live all scored highly. Our staff member testing the platform was frustrated that the platform doesn’t allow you to message your provider between appointments. Technical issues may also be an issue—30 percent of the users we surveyed experienced some technical problems when using the platform.
“The platform made it easy to stay on top of appointments and treatment.”
Survey respondent
“I made real progress using MD Live’s psychiatry services.”
Survey respondent
Overall satisfaction:
Value for cost:
Empathy rating:
Privacy and security rating:
Platform navigation rating:
“Both my therapist and psychiatrist were very professional and seemed very skilled and experienced.”
Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
“I had no trouble booking appointments, but was slightly frustrated that I could not message providers in between sessions.”
Joseph Collerain, Production Coordinator
MD Live’s sign-up takes less than 20 minutes for most people (67 percent), but nearly 36 percent found it less than easy to switch providers. Here’s what happens:
Create account.
Enter location and insurance details (if applicable).
Complete questionnaire.
Choose from a list of providers showing next available appointment times (2-3 days for 57 percent of users).
In addition to our picks listed above, we tested another other psychiatry services that didn’t quite make our top list but could still be a good fit for some people.
Amwell is a comprehensive telehealth platform that lets you search for a wide range of providers—including psychiatrists and therapists—and then book appointments, meet virtually, and pay for services all in one place. Unlike psychiatry-only platforms, Amwell functions as a multi-specialty hub for both mental health and general medical care.
When we tested Amwell, we rated it highly for ease of use, its privacy protocols, and price transparency. We also found the “visit summary” notes sent after each session to be very useful. They provided a summary of everything you talked about with your psychiatrist as well as an outline of the treatments suggested, including any medications prescribed.
Where Amwell fell short for us was the number of providers. In California, we could find only nine psychiatrists, all of them male. The only filters available were language spoken, and those were limited to just English, Urdu, or Hindi. In less populous states, it may be difficult to find a provider at all—let alone one who meets your preferences for a mental health provider.
Owned by Anthem, Inc., LiveHealth Online offers video visits for psychiatry services across all 50 states. The platform accepts many Anthem insurance plans. It is also available through some universities and employers. If your insurance plan isn’t accepted, out-of-pocket fees are $190 for an initial evaluation and $85 for each follow-up session.
LiveHealth is geared specifically towards those with Anthem insurance plans or who are looking to pay for psychiatry services out of pocket, and we found that other psychiatry platforms may have wider appeal. There are platforms that offer less expensive consultations when self-paying and others that accept a greater selection of insurance plans.
A subscription-based platform, Cerebral offers medication management as well as therapy. The platform’s medication plan costs $180 every three months, which includes a 40-minute initial evaluation and unlimited messaging with your provider. Cerebral also accepts major insurance plans, such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, and United Healthcare.general medical care.
Cerebral has faced some controversy in the past for overprescribing controlled medications and sharing the personal information of users with other companies. The platform has now resolved both issues with The Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
While we had a positive experience with a psychiatric nurse we were paired with, we were extremely concerned by the lack of privacy when we messaged her through the platform. An automated response informed us that the message was also being read by other staff at Cerebral. When we questioned customer service about this, we were told the people reading it were “professionals,” but nothing more than that.
While only 19 percent of Cerebral users we surveyed shared our tester’s security and privacy concerns, there are other platforms we feel more comfortable recommending over Cerebral.
Online psychiatry platforms vary in the type of providers they offer, as well as quality of care and overall reliability. Some platforms offer psychiatric care only, while others also offer online therapy, making it a convenient one-stop for your mental health care.
To help you choose a platform that’s right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
What type of providers does the platform offer? As you search through different online psychiatry platforms, you’re likely to come across two types of providers: psychiatrists, who are medical doctors specializing in mental health, and psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), who are advanced practice nurses trained to diagnose conditions and, in many states, prescribe the same medications as a psychiatrist.
One isn’t necessarily a better choice than the other. It depends on your needs and situation. However, since psychiatrists have more extensive training, they may be better equipped to handle complex or severe cases.
Is there a good provider selection? Some of this may depend on where you live and how many licensed providers are available in your state. Broadly speaking, the greater the selection of providers a platform offers, the more likely you are to find one that fits your needs and cut down on the wait time for an appointment.
What connection options are available? Online psychiatry platforms allow you to connect virtually with a provider via live video, phone, or messaging. Messaging a psychiatric provider between sessions can be a useful feature, but ideally, a provider will insist on communicating with you face to face over video, at least for the initial consultation. Some services prescribe medications after you simply fill out a form. But you want to know that a medical professional is there for you if you experience adverse side effects or need to change your dosage, switch to a different medication, or also require treatment beyond a prescription.
Is it affordable? As we all know, the cost of health care can mount up over time, so you’ll want to find a service that fits your budget. Some platforms accept health insurance, including Medicare, which means the cost to you may be limited to a copay. Some platforms charge per visit, while others require a monthly subscription. If you’re paying out of pocket, many charge less for follow-up appointments than the initial consultation. How often you need to see a psychiatrist will often depend on the condition, the severity of your symptoms, and the type of medication prescribed. But it’s likely you’ll need to budget to see your provider at least once a month when you’re starting a medication.
Does the platform also offer therapy? While psychiatrists are qualified to offer therapy, most of them no longer do. Their major focus now tends to be on medication. However, a psychiatrist may also recommend therapy as a long-term treatment for your symptoms. Finding a platform that offers both psychiatry and therapy can be convenient, saving you from completing another signup process. Some platforms also allow your psychiatrist and therapist to share notes for more coordinated care.
Will it protect my privacy? In the U.S., the Health Information and Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) means that what you share with your medical provider should remain private and confidential—unless you’re deemed a danger. You’ll still want to ensure that a platform is HIPAA compliant, that sessions and messaging with your psychiatric care provider are encrypted, and you understand how much information a platform will share about you. We also recommend checking a service’s privacy policy to explore their privacy measures and data protection features.
When looking to find an online psychiatrist, it’s not just qualifications and experience that matter. A psychiatrist can be an important part of your mental health care team, so you want to find someone you’re comfortable with. It’s important you feel at ease enough to open up about your thoughts and feelings. The more your psychiatric provider understands you and the issues you’re facing, the better they’ll be able to suggest the right treatment—whether that’s medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, other treatments, or, most often, a combination of approaches.
Some points to consider:
Licensing. An online psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner must be licensed in the state where you are receiving treatment. A reputable online psychiatry platform should be vetting their providers, but it’s worth making certain a provider is fully licensed and in good standing with your state’s regulatory board.
Experience and specialty. As with therapists, psychiatric providers often have areas they specialize in, such as depression, ADHD, or trauma. The more experienced a provider is in dealing with your specific issues, the better treatment insights and suggestions they may be able to offer.
The right personal connection. When talking about mental health issues, you want to feel secure and heard by your psychiatrist. But often there’s only so much you gauge from a provider’s online profile. You can ask for a referral from your primary care doctor or a recommendation from a friend or family member, but there’s no guarantee that a psychiatrist will be a good fit until you meet them online. If the fit doesn’t feel right, or you don’t feel they understand or empathize with your problems, don’t hesitate to shop around. Being able to easily switch providers can be a big plus point of online psychiatry. On many platforms, it merely takes a few clicks.
One of the key differences between virtual and in-person psychiatry is that online psychiatry doesn’t allow for physical evaluations. Considering in-person rather than online psychiatry can often come down to whether you may also benefit from a physical examination, lab tests, and in-person treatment.
As you’ve likely experienced at some point in your life, there’s a strong connection between physical and mental health. If you’ve had to endure chronic pain, for example, chances are it’s taken a toll on your mood, made you feel depressed or short-tempered. Similarly, feeling stressed or anxious can trigger physical responses such as heart palpitations, an upset stomach, or muscle soreness. Some medications can also cause mental health symptoms, just as some psychiatric medications can have physical side effects.
Broadly, the more severe your mental health symptoms, the more likely you are to benefit from in-person psychiatry if it’s available to you. Physical examinations and lab tests can help a psychiatrist make a diagnosis and rule out any underlying causes for your symptoms. A blood test, for example, could reveal a nutrient deficiency that’s causing your depression symptoms and would be more effectively treated by a supplement than an antidepressant.
Of course, for some people, in-person psychiatry may not even be an option. If you have limited mobility, live in an area without a psychiatric provider nearby, or face a long wait to see someone in-person, seeking help online is a good first step. A responsible online psychiatrist will recommend in-person care if you need it. They also may send you for lab tests before making a diagnosis, or to monitor your health during treatment.
If you don’t have insurance or are struggling to afford mental health care in the U.S., these resources may help:
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HelpGuide’s experience testing this online therapy and psychiatry platform
HelpGuide's review of the online psychiatry platform, based on personal testing.
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