What is Psychiatrist

Although mental healthcare has been gaining more social acceptance since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several barriers still exist for new service users in the US. Prospective consumers and recently diagnosed individuals are often left to navigate this complex system with minimal support, which can lead to delays in achieving a higher quality of life. The author attempts to promote equitable care outcomes by encouraging consumers to engage in self-advocacy via education, community resources, and opportunities to lobby for client autonomy, universal accessibility, and disability inclusion. As a rehabilitation counselor trainee and a long-time recipient of psychiatric care, the author provides a unique perspective from both sides of the traditional mental health hierarchy and suggests future directions for collaborative approaches. Her professional insights inform a discussion of the standards to which clinicians should be held, while her lived experiences are woven throughout the text to underscore the shortcomings of the current system and offer examples of resilience.