WMHSIG Essay Prize

WMHSIG Essay Prize 2023

The WMHSIG are accepting submissions for this year's Essay Prize on the theme of "Lessons from matriarchs – and what do we still need to learn?"

Women leaders and elders often pass their knowledge and experience down through generations.  Do we always learn from our seniors, mothers and grandmothers or do we sometimes we end up fighting similar battles again?

• Who can enter? The prize is open to medical students and trainees of any stage studying/working in the UK, as well as SAS doctors with less than seven years full time equivalent experience of working in psychiatry. 
• Essay Topic: "Lessons from matriarchs – and what do we still need to learn?"
• Prize: £100 + free attendance at our Annual Conference (where the winner will be awarded their prize).
• Word count: 2000 words.
• How to enter? Please send your essay to sigs@rcpsych.ac.uk by Friday 6 October 2023.
• How will entries be judged: A panel of assessors from WMHSIG executive committee will review the entries. All essays will be double marked. A marking scheme will be used consisting of the following criteria: 
  • Coherence of the narrative and clear structure 
  • Correct grammar and language 
  • Understanding of the topic 
  • Originality of the ideas 
  • Ability to engage the reader 

If you have any questions, please email us.

WMHSIG Essay Prize 2022

• The prize was open to medical students and trainees of any stage.
• The title was "Violence against Women and Girls: what is the role of psychiatry?"
• Prize: £100 + free attendance at our Annual Conference + joining a panel discussion on the same theme at the conference.

2022 Winner

• Sucheta Tiwari

• The prize was open to medical students and trainees of any stage.
• The title was “How can the arts shine a light on women's wellbeing and mental health?”.
• Prize: £100 + free attendance at our Annual Conference + joining a panel discussion on the same theme at the conference.

We had a great response to the call for entries and the standard was really high.

2021 Winner

• Jessica Lochtenberg

• The prize was open to medical students and trainees of any stage.
• The title was “The Female Psychiatrist in the 21st Century: A Vision of the Future”
• Prize: £100 + free attendance at our 4 December Annual Conference + joining a panel discussion on the same theme at the conference

We had a great response to the call for entries and the standard was really high.

2020 Winner

• Claire Roberts

Highly commended

• Eleanor Brookes
• Marie Lynch