Finding the Right Mental Health Professional

Unlocking ADHD writer, Megan Tan, shares tips on finding a mental health professional for an ADHD assessment.

So, you think you or your child may have ADHD, and you think it may be time to get an assessment. How do you go about choosing the right professionals?

Psychiatrist or Psychologist?

Some people believe that psychiatrists and psychologists are the same, and that could not be further from the truth. They are vastly different professions.  Psychiatry is a branch of Science concentrated around mental, emotional and behavioural issues. Psychiatrists go through medical school and are able to dispense medications. They are also able to diagnose and give assessments to clients. They are often more focused on the chemical or biological aspects of mental health. (More info)

Psychology is the study of the human mind and behaviour. Most psychologists in Singapore will likely have a Masters or PhD in Psychology. Psychologists are able to diagnose and give assessments to clients, however, they are not able to dispense medications. A psychologist is likely to be more focused on a client’s emotional well-being and likely sees them more often than a psychiatrist would.

Thus, it is important to consider what your aim in getting a diagnosis is, and whether part of that aim is to try out ADHD medication. Usually, seeing both a psychiatrist and a psychologist will help clients to manage symptoms effectively.

Private or Public?

There are many psychiatrists available in both the public and private health sectors. When deciding to get an assessment, it is good to look at the pros and cons of both. (More info)

If you are a Singaporean citizen, public healthcare, whether mental or physical, is subsidised. To receive an ADHD assessment, you would need a referral. This referral can be obtained from a polyclinic or your primary care physician. Thus, this route would cost less, but may take a longer time. Additionally, there is often a long wait time to get an appointment with a psychiatrist in the public healthcare system and even longer to get an assessment. (See our Healthcare Directory)

Private healthcare, on the other hand, would be significantly faster. However, it would also be much more expensive. To get an appointment, you would simply need to pick up the phone and dial the office. Since private doctors naturally have a lesser number of clientele, you would not have to wait long for the assessment. The upside is that private doctors often cost a lot. For example, a private psychiatrist at Raffles Medical could cost $214 with GST. Assessments may also cost more.

Other Things of Note

No matter what mental health professional you see, it is important you find one that listens to you and is knowledgeable about their field. For instance, a psychiatrist that says “you can’t have ADHD because you have good grades” would not be a psychiatrist you want to continue seeing. This example shows the psychiatrist giving a clear disregard for the patient’s feelings and rigidly basing their diagnosis criteria on outdated stereotypes.  

A “good” mental health professional is someone who is respectful of their client’s feelings and wishes. They are transparent about side effects different treatments may bring, respect confidentiality and give assessments based on current scientific research, not outdated stereotypes. They understand that diagnostic criteria is not “one size fits all”. 

Finally, being clear of why you want an assessment or diagnosis in the first place is important. This aim will help to guide you in the process of finding the right mental health professional for you. Though a mental health professional may check all the boxes and be objectively “good”, if you are not comfortable around them, it is time to look for someone else. Being comfortable or “clicking” with a mental health professional allows for an easier assessment process for all parties involved. 

Before your appointment, make sure to write down the symptoms or struggles you have had, and any prior research you have done. This will also help to facilitate the assessment process. Finding a mental health professional that fits your aims may take some time, but it will be worth it in the end.