12/02/2026
Mental Health Care Is Not a Competition
Recently, a few clients shared something that made me pause.
After psychiatric consultations, they were told:
“Counselling is a waste of time.”
“Only medicines can heal.”
“You are physically fine. The problem is mental.”
Let’s reflect.
Is mental health purely biological?
Or is it biopsychosocial — as decades of research suggest?
The WHO, APA, and multiple clinical guidelines consistently recommend a combination of psychotherapy and medication for many mood and anxiety disorders. Research shows that therapy not only reduces symptoms — it also lowers relapse rates when combined with medication.
Medication can stabilize.
Therapy builds resilience.
These are not opposing forces. They are complementary.
What concerns me most is not medication itself — it is the dismissal of therapy and the language used with vulnerable clients.
When someone seeking help hears “you are mentally ill” without empathy or explanation, stigma increases.
When one profession undermines another, trust decreases.
And when trust decreases, people stop seeking help.
Mental health care works best when:
✔ Psychiatrists and psychologists collaborate
✔ Referrals are respectful
✔ Investigations are explained
✔ Clients are educated, not labeled
This is not about choosing sides.
It is about choosing what works best for the client.
Healing is integrative.
And collaboration is maturity.
—
Sriya Singhal
Psychologist & Clinical Hypnotherapist
