Why More Psychiatrists Should Be Involved in Palliative Care

Palliative care is more than just managing pain—it's about easing suffering in all its forms. While physical symptom control is a core component, palliative care also seeks to address the profound emotional, psychological, and spiritual challenges that accompany serious illness. And yet, psychiatry—so well-suited to this mission—remains an underutilized partner in the field. This post explores why psychiatrists should be an integral part of palliative care teams, how their expertise can transform patient and family experiences, and what needs to change to make this collaboration the norm rather than the exception.