There is a public stigma that surrounds people who seek these professional services and as a result, people are deterred from seeking psychiatric services. This is a longstanding marketing challenge which few have been able to overcome and, in recent years, most practitioners have opted to focus their marketing efforts on highlighting specific areas of focus which carry less of a stigma in order to drive patients through the door, such as ADHD treatment or forensics.
Referrals tend to be the only way to break through the barrier caused by the stigmatisation of psychiatric health issues, and psychiatric practitioners aim to build lasting relationships with their patients, as well as other practitioners. The relationships they build with other practitioners tend to form vital referral channels, which aid them in a number of ways besides just patient referrals. These practitioners can also work together to tackle particular cases with a team approach, which offers patients a multitude of resources and treatment options.
