Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbances, and abnormal behaviour. Psychiatrists look at biological, psychological and neurochemical abnormalities to diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe medications to treat them.
On the other hand, Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. Individuals who practice Psychology are known as Psychologists and study how human beings think, behave and feel in different social settings. They are experts in human behaviour.

A Psychiatrist is a certified medical professional that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental illness and psychological problems. Psychiatrists are not only trained to diagnose and manage mental illness but are also adept at providing psychotherapy (talk therapy/counselling). They can interpret blood tests and other investigations done by medical doctors.

There are several signs that you might benefit from visiting a psychiatrist, including:

• Problems adjusting to life changes
• Anxiety or worry
• Lasting depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Hurting yourself
• Obsessive thinking
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Uncontrollable alcohol or drug use
• Body image problems
• Poor concentration
• Emotional outburst
• Sleep issues

If you are working with a psychiatrist, a lot of the treatment may be focused on medication management. Sometimes medication alone is enough to treat the mental illness. Sometimes a combination of medication and psychotherapy or counselling is needed. If that is the case, the psychiatrist may provide the psychotherapy, or the psychiatrist may refer you to a counsellor or other type of mental health professional.

Depending on the specific type of psychotherapy that is being used, the goal is to help people feel better equipped to manage stresses, understand patterns in their behaviour that may interfere with reaching personal goals, have more satisfying relationships, and better regulate their thinking and emotional responses to stressful situations. If someone has a form of mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy also addresses ways in which the illness affects their daily life, focuses on how to best understand the illness and manage its symptoms and follow medical recommendations.

Certain mental illnesses require just a couple of visits, and others require lifelong treatment. You should seek treatment with your nearest psychiatrist as soon as possible, for the best outcome.