Is what I say kept private?

Yes. Your records and what you say stay confidential, as the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 requires. The rare exceptions, such as a serious risk to your safety, are explained at your first visit, before anything else.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can book directly, for yourself or for someone in your family.

Will I have to take medication?

Not necessarily. Medication is one option among several, and any decision about it is made with you, with the reasons laid out. Nothing is prescribed in a hurry.

Any past prescriptions or reports, and a list of the medicines you take now. For a video consultation, a quiet room where you won't be overheard.

Can I come with someone?

Yes. Bring whoever makes it easier. Part of the conversation may still be just the two of you, and that is normal.

Online psychiatry in India: prescriptions, privacy and what to expect

Since India's Telemedicine Practice Guidelines were issued in 2020, registered doctors, including psychiatrists, can consult and prescribe over video. For many people it removes the hardest parts of getting help: travel, time off work, and walking into a clinic where someone might recognise you.

What works well online

Anxiety, stress and sleep problems
Depression and low mood
Follow-up appointments once treatment has started
Second opinions, and questions about medicines you already take
People who live far from a psychiatrist, or who find it easier to talk from home

Some situations are better handled in person: a first assessment of a young child, severe illness where a physical examination or tests are needed, and anything urgent. Video consultations are not for emergencies.

Prescriptions: what can and can't be given by video

The telemedicine guidelines group medicines into lists. Many commonly used psychiatric medicines can be prescribed after a video consultation, and you receive a signed prescription you can take to a pharmacy.

Some medicines cannot be prescribed through teleconsultation at all, including those listed in Schedule X of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and narcotic or psychotropic substances under the NDPS Act. If one of these is needed, the doctor will ask you to come in person. This is a legal safeguard, not a judgement about you.

Privacy

What you say in a consultation is confidential, whether in person or on video. India's Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 gives people receiving mental health care a right to confidentiality, with narrow exceptions such as a serious risk to someone's safety. A good psychiatrist explains those exceptions at the start.

On your side, privacy mostly means choosing where you take the call. A closed room, earphones, and a time when others are out make it much easier to speak freely.

How to prepare

Test your internet and camera a few minutes before
Have a list of the medicines you take, with doses
Keep any past prescriptions, reports or discharge summaries nearby
Note down what you most want help with, and any questions
Have a valid ID ready, as the doctor needs to confirm who they are consulting

What the first consultation covers

Expect questions about what has been happening, how long, how it affects sleep, appetite, work and relationships, your health, family history, and any alcohol or substance use. You leave with an understanding of what is going on and a plan, which may or may not include medication.

In a crisis, don't wait for an online appointment: call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or go to the nearest emergency department.

More on online consultation across india Find a time

Sources

This article is general information, not a substitute for advice about your own situation.