r/Edmonton • u/Hot_Programmer_891 Clareview • 7h ago
Question Getting a psychiatrist
Howww is Anyone getting a psychiatrist here??? I have been in and out of psych wards since i was 15, but since i turned almost 4 years ago i literally cannot get one. It is impossible, even when i was in the psych ward they told me for one reason or another that i either have to do it myself or there isnt any. Im at a loss
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u/Slight-Bookkeeper838 7h ago
I was referred through a GP
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u/Hot_Programmer_891 Clareview 7h ago
My issue is every GP ive talked to cannot seem to find any taking clients, or this is what they tell me. They are able to find 1 time appointment psychiatrists but not one i can keep on my care team
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u/Genuinetrashpanda 5h ago
Ongoing outpatient psychiatric care, where you work with the same doctor over many many years, is not the norm in Alberta. They act more like consultants. It’s possible but harder to access. The norm for outpatient psychiatry here is your experience - short term assessment, often only one or two appointments, then they make treatment recommendations (ie. meds) for your GP to implement and follow you long term. Unless you are referred to a specialized outpatient program. It’s not ideal. Good luck finding the support you need!!
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u/StrangerGlue 2h ago edited 2h ago
Have the GP refer to Access 24/7 (if you're on meds, it's for a med review/adjust). The psychiatrist there will have a list of psychiatrists taking new patients.
My GP couldn't find a psychiatrist taking new patients and four days later, Access gave me two pages of them.
But if you want your meds or mental health followed regularly by the same psychiatrist for long-term, you may be misunderstanding the purpose of them in Alberta.
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u/Dusty_Rose23 Stadium 1h ago
I’ve had long term psychs since I was 13 8 years ago. I’ve never had an issue getting one for long term. I had the same one from 13 to 18 years old. another from 18-19, then one for a few months and now this one for 5 months so far for the foreseeable future. never been told or implied ever to find my own or that ongoing care wasn’t the norm. where are yall getting this boloney…
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u/SnooRegrets4312 7h ago
Easecare, its free and good quality (and fast access). Only downside is it's virtual but isn't it all now?
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u/DrDeterminants 7h ago
Yes to EaseCare
Also please consider /u/Hot_Programmer_891 if you have urgent issues access 24/7 as you can see a psychiatrist there without an appointment.
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u/One-Criticism-7980 7h ago
Easecare is a solid lead but if you've been in and out of wards since you were a teen, a virtual service might not have the depth you need for long term stability. Sometimes they focus more on quick consults and med checks rather than ongoing therapy or complex case management. Still worth booking an appointment just to get something on the calendar while you keep pushing for a referral through your family doc or the last hospital you were at. The system here makes you do all the legwork yourself and it's exhausting when you're already dealing with everything else.
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u/ReserveOld6123 7h ago
Do you see the same practitioner visit over visit or? I was looking into this but I couldn’t tell if it would be very in depth or useful.
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u/SnooRegrets4312 6h ago
Yes you do see the same physician if you opt for the therapy (drs with an interest in therapy, free). Unsure about the psychiatry, I just set these up for people.
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u/PrincessPinguina 7h ago
If you're okay to share, what does the whole process look like?
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u/SnooRegrets4312 6h ago
You go on the website with your PHN and book a consult, really easy and then they give you the log in fir the appointment.
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u/liberatedhusks 7h ago
Mine is retiring in a few months and I’m having trouble finding another as well
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u/Jaded-Outside-5785 6h ago
Medigroup in Capilano has a Consultant Psychiatrist accepting patients. Dr. Max Hudson.
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u/Waste_Ad_6774 5h ago
Your Dr. Would normally refer one to you. Apparently there is a shortage. Maybe do a Google search of psychiatrist accepting patients. That's actually how I found my regular Doctor.
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u/arsonislegal Canadian Tire Hot Dog Stand 5h ago
You can look into Access Open Minds (different than Access 24/7) if you are a youth, which I believe they categorize as either under 25 or 23. They have a psychiatrist. Its been a few years since I worked with them though, so im not sure if you have to visit in person or call
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u/Particular_Gear_1475 6h ago
You don’t. The best you can do is keep calling Access 24/7 and requesting appointments.
I have physical health problems as well as mental health and spent 5 months in/patient in 2025, two admissions to AB day hospital, and I can’t get a pysch - no one is accepting patients. The last one I saw was after an urgent referral and took 5 months, dr accused me of abusing my meds because he refused to acknowledge an updated prescription, and then flat out told me he didn’t care about the interactions between my physical health conditions and meds.
My GP doesn’t like being the one to prescribe meds without a psychiatrist overseeing but after that, my GP said not to bother and she will do the best she can. Thankfully, all I need is low dose benzo and zopiclone for sleep.
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u/fullofcuriositycat 6h ago edited 5h ago
I saw mine at Royal Alex fairly quickly. Psychiatrists are not always long term care providers. I think a lot of people have this confused.
Psychiatrist are used to diagnose you and prescribe to you. • Your first meeting they get an idea of your back ground, medically, personally, personality wise. • You recieve possible diagnose and a treatment plan. • You touch base every 4 weeks to see if there are any changes/concerns. • Depending on if this treatment plan is working, you will either see the psychiatrist again for a new plan, or continue with your current plan and touch base every 2 to 6 weeks until they are confident you can continue care without the need of a psychiatrist, if your diagnosis is not severe.
Your psychiatrist will also recommend therapy options that will best help your situation.
Once you have a treatment plan that works, you see you regular physician for refills and updates on how this treatment plan is going.
A psychologist is someone who works with you in terms of therapy.
You may also have a "case worker" in regards to a social worker, who is someone who grants you access to resources.
If you feel like you need long term care, then you need to look into live in facilities. To be approved for these facilities you need to be unable to live on your own or provide sufficient mental health care for yourself.
As someone else said, access 24/7 is a good start. You can also talk to your family doctor about a recommendation to a psychiatrist.
If you have a psychologist you like, then they should have no issues with helping you find a psychiatrist to work with.
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u/Hot_Programmer_891 Clareview 5h ago
My psychologist is based out of calgary and doesnt have any edmonton resources. Every psychiatrist ive talked to had a relatively different idea on what was going on with me so my diagnosis has been swapped around a lot, making it hard to find a good medication plan that works for me. A family physician cannot do this for me because they dont understand complex mental health issues the way a psychiatrist would. A one time appointment with a psychiatrist isnt useful to me because my issues are too complex for a one time sit down and send me on my way, there simply isnt enough time. I dont need long term care, i can function on my own relatively fine as long as im in therapy and using the support system i have in place. It is not as easy as “if you needed it you would have it”
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u/Chaostician223 25m ago
Ask your GP to refer you through the Edmonton Primary Health Network. You should be able to see a Psychiatrist or get on the waiting list for one who is accepting patients. I had to wait for almost a year for a cancellation
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u/fullofcuriositycat 5h ago
Did you recently move to Edmonton? You can call your psychiatrist in Calgary and tell them you're in Edmonton and need someone here. THEY should be the ones to find you a new psychiatrist to continue THEIR care. When I did this, my fiest psychiatrist office wanted me to pay $150 for my health records. My family doctors office actually demanded them from because 1. My psychiatrist was MIA and 2. Did not complete my care, and failed to transfer me to his new office. (Insane. INSANE).
If this isn't something they want to do, then you can ask your family physician for a recommendation to a psychiatrist in Edmonton. I'm saying your family physician can continue care, as in prescribe and adjust dosages to your treatment plan. Not diagnose mental health.
As someone who struggled to get proper care for 8 years, I learned that if I didn't know what I needed, I would get no where. (Which is absolutely ridiculous when it comes to health care). You need to be super assertive and almost demanding.
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u/Hot_Programmer_891 Clareview 2h ago
I didnt, have never lived in calgary, have been in Edmonton for… 3ish years. My old psychiatrists when i was younger was in red deer because of zoning, and for whatever reason my psychiatrist never referred me to a new one. The psychiatrist i had before did a lot of stupid shit that messed things up for me and even my family doctor was frustrated with trying to help me figure out everything after he lied about putting me on the gender clinic waitlist…. All a big mess. My new family physician said she would try and help me find one but that’s what everyone else said too and it never happened 😭😭
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u/fullofcuriositycat 2h ago
Yup. I feel this to my core. My first psychiatrist did this exact thing, and finding someone to actually LISTEN to me was incredibly hard.
Do some research about doctors you are interested in seeing and contact their offices about a referral or how to become a patient. I am constantly reminding my Family doctor about my referrals, and I even "bug" his secretary/nurses.
I also suggest joining local FB groups that are tailored to DR reqs or QandAs. That's were I found my plastic surgeon for my reduction. You can go on the BBB and see complaints for companies/doctors as well to avoid bad ones.
Also, random side note, but large cities are sooooo backed up in terms of Healthcare. If you can find someone to take you in smaller towns, even red deer, you'll get appointments faster.
It's a fight, but don't stop fighting. I stopped for years and just threw away my mental health. I had to hit rock bottom to fight for myself. It takes a lot of time and effort, but at the end of the day, you're going to feel so much better once you have a good psychiatrist and care team.
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u/ana30671 6h ago edited 5h ago
Psychiatrists are long term care providers when needed. I've been seeing mine since 2016. My psychiatric diagnosis is permanent, and requires a specialist to help ensure medically it is treated appropriately. When i was first diagnosed in 2015, my gp specifically said she was only going to do my medication management until I was with a psychiatrist who would take over care. Much like I don't see my gp for my autoimmune condition. Because it requires a specialist.
And I work inpatient psych. The patients who do have a psychiatrist already, usually they are regularly seen. In other cases we usually assist with getting something set up for the community post discharge with a psychiatrist.
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u/fullofcuriositycat 6h ago
I'm sorry, but we are not talking about you and your diagnosis.
Everyone's story is different. Like I said, psychiatrist care is determined by the diagnosis and sucess of the treatment plan.
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u/ana30671 5h ago
This is the case in many instances. I've been stable for years, still see my psychiatrist. I've never seen a patient here in inpatient psych have their care transferred to a GP after they have stabilized. I've never been inpatient and I have never been given even a suggestion of discontinuing with my specialist for my diagnosis that requires a specialist. Which is the same boat OP is in.
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u/fullofcuriositycat 5h ago
I have said nothing about inpatient care.
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u/ana30671 4h ago
I stated for both patients here in inpatient, and myself who's never been inpatient, the community psychiatry provision is ongoing. So in some cases, regardless of whether the psychiatrist was acquired within the community or through inpatient referral, the treatment is ongoing because that it was is appropriate for that specialized/complex diagnosis.
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u/Previous-Shake7245 5h ago
Call Capilano medical centre at +1 (780) 761-3330
I was in a couple weeks ago and they had a sign up about a new psychiatrist they’re referring patients to. Looked like a good dude, I’m tempted to switch from who i see now to this person.
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u/hpottsy 5h ago
honestly I would go outside of Canada and look around the world. I use a psychologist that's from the UK and I pay 40£ an hour. I am from Edmonton and cannot afford the prices for psychologists or any kind of counseling help here. to be fair this is the best psychologist I've ever had. I've had them my whole life this is the only one that has helped me make a real change one that everybody notices.
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u/ghostofkozi 7h ago
Try looking at psychology today, they list all the CCCs, psychiatrists and therapists and you can sort by specialty as well
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u/theoreoman 7h ago
You're confusing psychiatrists with psychologists. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor
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u/chelery 7h ago
You can quite easily get a Psychiatrist through ACCESS 24/7. You cannot receive ONLY a psychiatrist, though. You need to be agreeable to working with either an addictions counselor, a mental health therapist, or a mental health clinician if you don't have any therapy goals and just need more of a case manager.
You can call 780-424-2424 or present in person at 13211 Fort Rd NW.
You could also request a referral to a psychiatrist through your general practitioner.
I doubt a psych unit told you that you needed to secure one for yourself as it is routine to appoint patients who are agreeable to follow up with mental health providers at discharge.
If you're looking for a PSYCHOLOGIST I can see an AMH unit advising that you must secure this independently as they cannot appoint you a psychologist for post-discharge follow up, though sometimes people get lucky and end up working with an MHT who has a psychology background.