In his successful 2017 standup special 3 Mics on Netflix, comedian Neal Brennan jokes about his own depression treatment: “I went to a psychiatrist and a psychologist. If you don’t know the difference, congrats on having a great life.”
Of course, Brennan’s cheeky comment isn’t totally accurate, considering an estimated 35 percent of people with a major depressive episode don’t pursue treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Even among those who do get treatment, it’s not uncommon to be a little fuzzy on the difference between these two mental health specialists.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2023). What is psychiatry?
American Psychological Association. (2012). What do practicing psychologists do?
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020). Types of mental health professionals.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Major depression.
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