Psychiatry is the medical specialty that examines and treats Mental Disorders.
When we refer to mental disorders we refer to emotional disturbances (e.g. depression, bipolar affective disorder), anxiety disorders (e.g. Panic Disorder, Phobia) . . and Disorders of the Personality.
Psychiatry has now a lot of tools, diagnostic and therapeutic tools used for dealing with these disorders, which help the overwhelming majority of patients.
With the modern therapies, a return to normal life is almost certain.
Modern pharmaceutical agents are not only just effective, but due to their good profile have no side effects. In addition, the modern psychotherapeutic interventions either successfully complement the treatment, or are the ones used as the primary treatment.
The above enable more people to reach out to an expert, since they now know that there is a way to handle their problems without being stigmatized.