While you wait for an appointment

Waiting is common. It does not have to be passive

Being told the next opening is weeks or months away can feel like being told to cope alone until then. It is common for outpatient psychiatry and therapy, especially for new patients and specialty services like ADHD evaluations. There is usually more you can do than wait for the date to arrive.

Keep the appointment you have, even while you look for an earlier one. A booked slot is a safety net, and it is easy to cancel once something sooner is confirmed. Note the practice's cancellation policy so that you give enough notice and are not charged.

Get on more than one list

There is generally nothing wrong with booking with more than one practice and keeping whichever appointment comes first. When you get in somewhere, cancel the others promptly so the slot goes to someone else.

• Ask every practice: "Do you keep a cancellation list, and how will you contact me if something opens?"
• Keep your phone on and check voicemail. Cancellation slots are often offered at short notice and go to whoever answers.
• Ask whether a different clinician at the same practice, such as a nurse practitioner, has earlier availability.
• Ask whether the wait is shorter for telehealth appointments.
• Widen your search to neighbouring areas or, for telehealth, anywhere in your state where the clinician is licensed.

Use primary care in the meantime

A primary care provider is often the fastest door in. NIMH notes that a primary care provider can do an initial mental health screening and refer you to a mental health professional. Many also manage common conditions such as depression and anxiety themselves, or can bridge you until a specialist appointment.

If you already take a psychiatric medication and are worried about running out before your appointment, tell your current prescriber or primary care provider now rather than waiting. Do not stop or change a medication on your own.

Other doors worth trying

Depending on your situation, one of these may open sooner than a new-patient appointment.

• Your insurance plan: call member services and ask for help finding in-network providers with current availability. NIMH notes that many insurers have an app or online directory.
• Your employer: an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), if you have one, may offer short-term counseling or referrals.
• A school or college counseling service, for students.
• FindTreatment.gov, the federal locator for mental health and substance use treatment.
• SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, free and confidential, 24/7, for referrals.

What to say when you call

How you describe the need can affect where you are placed. Practices often triage, so give them enough to do that well.

• Say clearly what kind of appointment you want: a psychiatric evaluation, therapy, medication management or an ADHD evaluation.
• Mention anything time-sensitive, such as running out of medication, a recent hospital stay, or symptoms getting worse.
• If you are calling for a child or teen, say so early, since not every clinician sees young people.
• Say whether you can take an appointment at short notice, and which times of day you can and cannot do.
• Ask what the practice needs from you before the first visit, such as forms, records or a referral, so nothing delays it.

Keeping steady while you wait

Write down what you want the clinician to know: what has been happening, since when, what makes it better or worse, what you have tried, current medications, and your questions. It makes a short first appointment far more useful.

Keep the basics as steady as you can: sleep, meals, movement and time with people you trust. Tell at least one person what you are going through. Reduce alcohol and other substances, which can make mood, anxiety and sleep worse.

If you are waiting on an evaluation for a child, ask the school what support it can offer in the meantime, and gather school reports, teacher comments, any earlier assessments and a note of when the concerns started. Clinicians often ask for these, and having them ready can shorten the process.

When waiting is not the right move

A waiting list is for care that can safely wait. Do not keep waiting if things are getting worse. Call or text 988 any time for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are thinking about suicide, feel unable to keep yourself safe, or are in emotional crisis. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

It is also worth calling the practice you are waiting on to tell them things have changed. Some keep urgent slots or can advise where to go in the meantime. A worsening situation may also call for a different level of care, such as an intensive outpatient program, rather than a standard appointment; a clinician or crisis counselor can help you work that out.