Who is Dr. Farrah Fang? She is a psychiatrist and integral member of Georgia Tech’s Stamps Health Services (SHS) psychiatry team. The board-certified psychiatrist completed medical school at the prestigious Brown University, later pursuing her residency and fellowship at Northwestern University. It was in her third year of medical school that she decided to switch her focus from primary care to psychiatry after the “fantastic experience” that she had during her psychiatry clerkship. Learn more about what Dr. Fang enjoys most about her job and what you can expect from a visit with psychiatry.

What interested you in working at Georgia Tech and what do you enjoy most about your job? The best part of my job is working with the students! I learn something new from my patients every day. I feel fortunate to work at an institution like Georgia Tech that recognizes the importance of holistically addressing the mental health and well-being of its community.

What do you think is the most valuable thing that you have learned as a psychiatrist? There is a misconception that psychiatrists are too quick to medicate problems. But I have learned that if you take the time to really listen to someone, many situations can be effectively addressed with interventions that don’t involve medication.

What can a student expect from an appointment with you? The first appointment in psychiatry is an extensive visit with a care coordinator to obtain detailed information and history about current problems.  Many students will then consult with a psychiatrist to clarify diagnosis and determine whether medication is appropriate. The students will also receive comprehensive treatment recommendations to address their health, well-being, and academic issues.  The psychiatry team consults with the Counseling Center to ensure that students receive comprehensive care.

What do you feel is the most common topic that students discuss with you? Students come to psychiatry for a variety of reasons, but a common request is for help with effectively managing stress.

What is the biggest challenge you encounter in your role? While much progress has been made to decrease stigma around mental health, there are still negative attitudes and beliefs about mental health which prevent people from seeking treatment and adhering to recommendations.

Are there common misconceptions about the mental health of young adults that you would like to address? Two common misconceptions to come to mind: the first is that having depression is a choice or a character flaw, which implies that people lack willpower or are lazy. The second is that people in college are too young to experience depression.  Depression is a legitimate medical condition related to brain chemistry, function, structure, and involves environmental or biological factors. Depression can happen at any age but often begins in the teens or early 20s. Depression is treatable with psychotherapy, medication, and other interventions to address stressors.

SHS offers general psychiatric services to undergraduate and graduate students and their spouses. This includes thorough psychiatric evaluations and medication management for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and other mental health issues. These services are provided by board-certified psychiatrists and care coordinators who collaborate with the Georgia Tech Counseling Center to ensure that students receive comprehensive care. For more information about these services and to schedule an appointment go to health.gatech.edu/psych.