When it's time for your first appointment, you'll want to get comfortable in a quiet, private room. Once you've logged in to a secure video chat, phone call, or the psychiatry service's platform, your psychiatrist will join you.
This first appointment serves as a consultation or evaluation, so they'll likely ask about:
- current symptoms
- medications you're taking
- your medical history
- past mental health diagnoses
- treatments that have and haven't worked for you
You may have some symptoms that don't seem connected to your primary concern. Still, it's best to share them with your psychiatrist anyway — they could offer important clues for your treatment and the right diagnosis.
Keep in mind that online psychiatry cannot help in urgent or emergency situations.