Depression/anxiety specialty support referral checklist

Urgency tier

• Immediate emergency pathway for imminent self-harm risk or inability to maintain safety; maintain supervision and do not delay for referral paperwork.
• Urgent psychiatric assessment for severe psychosis or mania, with emergency care if immediate danger or inability to meet basic needs is present.
• Expedited specialty referral for rapid deterioration, severe impairment, or persistent high-risk features.
• Routine referral for treatment-resistant symptoms without immediate safety threat.

Minimum pre-referral workup

• Summarize symptom course, functional impact, and validated tool trends (for example PHQ/GAD scores).
• Document trialed treatments, doses, duration, and tolerability.
• Include substance-use context, psychosocial stressors, and safety assessment findings.

Referral packet checklist

• Clear referral question (diagnostic clarification, medication strategy, psychotherapy triage).
• Current medication list and past adverse effects.
• Relevant supports already in place (therapy, crisis lines, family supports).

Pre-referral optimization tasks

• Provide interim follow-up interval and crisis resources.
• Confirm shared safety plan and return precautions.
• Continue measurable symptom monitoring while awaiting specialty input.

References

• CAMH mental illness and addiction index (opens in a new tab)

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