Can i go to my local hospital and get a physchiatric evaluation for medication(if needed)?

I was calling my local therapy centers who have a long waiting list to see psychiatrists and they suggested this....i think. It was a while ago so idont specifically remember. I think they said go into the urgent care and see a nurse practitioner. Is this true? Can i just walk in or do i need to make an appointment?This would be much cheaper for me then spending a certain amount on a psychiatrist every week although i would rather that option but its not financially possible right now. I do have health insurance that covers mental but the copay is 50 dollars and i def. cannot afford that once a week...or even every other week. Anyways thanks ahead of time!!

Yes, you certainly can, I had no idea until I dug into this a little. Why do you have to go back every week though, what I do is just get a one/two month supply with refills. Just see someone once a month for a while until you develop some rappoire with them and then they'll probably let you go for two months at a time without needing you to come in.

Lots of family doctors have backgrounds in this too and are more than happy to help out with non-psychoactive meds if you can show them you have a need (obviously you're a lot less likely to get oxycotin or adderall than you are to get lexapro or paxil).

My point is, you don't have to see a psychiatrist, but you can do it more on your own terms if you make an appointment.

Not sure where you are, but here in Australia, you can go to emergency dept of hospital, they will assess you, and recommend where to go from there. Either in hospital for treatment if you are real bad, or self harming etc, or maybe some counselling, they can sort you out.

If you're in Australia...

The answer is yes. you can go to ED and get a psychiatric assessment. BUT expect to get a hurried assessment, after waiting 4-6 hours, depending on what hospital's ED you go to.

I'd actually recommend you go to your GP, or your COMMUNITY health clinic (which should have a community mental health centre in it). You should be able to get a proper psychiatric assessment. And they will create a follow up plan with you!

Good luck!