The Royal College of Psychiatrists has launched a new campaign to encourage medical students and newly qualified doctors to #ChoosePsychiatry and help people with severe mental illness live a fulfilling life.
The call to action is being backed by award-winning actor and presenter Stephen Fry, communicator and strategist Alastair Campbell, and comedians Ruby Wax and Jo Brand who are highlighting the important and valuable role psychiatrists have played in their own lives.
Now in its eighth year, the campaign has significantly increased the number of doctors choosing to train or work in psychiatry. More doctors need to continue to choose psychiatry for their careers.
With an increasing number of people in need of mental health treatment each year, the #ChoosePsychiatry campaign is as important than ever. There is no indication this demand will reduce, as an estimated 1.6 million referrals to community-based services in England were waiting for treatment at the end of March 2024. As mental health problems become more prevalent, psychiatrists are playing an increasingly important role in the health of the nation.
Stephen Fry, Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists explains why more doctors and medical students need to choose psychiatry. Watch his video message:
He also said:
“Young people preparing for medical careers are realising more and more that the most exciting frontier in medicine is the human mind. But its study is more than just an intellectual challenge, it is a pathway to a life in psychiatry - the specialism that fights on the front line in our war against mental illness.
“I know I can say with absolute truth that psychiatry saved my life at its lowest moment. I don’t believe I would be here today if it were not for the psychiatrist who rescued me. The smartest and most caring minds are needed in this field and - happily - the trend towards choosing psychiatry as a speciality has lately been upward, upward, upward.”
Ruby Wax, who was recently treated by psychiatrists during writing her book Not as well as I thought I was, also recorded a video message:
She also said:
“During my recent spell in a mental health clinic I had a great psychiatrist - I will thank him forever.”
Jo Brand, comedian and former psychiatric nurse, said:
“As an ex mental health nurse from 1978 to 1988, I have witnessed and attest to the importance and invaluable contribution of psychiatrists. Particularly now, when the fallout from Covid has affected so many younger people in psychologically damaging ways, I think it is essential to see more psychiatrists in the profession and would wholeheartedly encourage more medical students to go into what is a very rewarding area of work.”
Alastair Campbell, Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“My mental health has definitely improved in recent years and much of that is down to the psychiatrist David Sturgeon, who sadly died earlier this year.
“It took time and patience on both our parts, but I am in little doubt that I could not have made the progress I have made without him. I know there are countless people like me who have benefited from his professionalism and his wisdom, and we need more people like him in our surgeries and hospitals. Whenever I hear of a medical student choosing psychiatry, I feel happy knowing that everyone who does choose psychiatry has the chance to make this a better world.”
Calling for medical students and foundation doctors to choose psychiatry, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Professor Subodh Dave, said:
“We welcome the generous backing of Stephen Fry, Alastair Campbell, Ruby Wax and Jo Brand. Psychiatrists have played a significant role in their lives and it’s great to see them share their experiences to help us recruit more medical students into the profession.
“Working as a psychiatrist is a hugely rewarding career, it’s been a fulfilling choice for me too. It means working on some of the most challenging health issues from addiction to dementia and from severe mental illness to eating disorders.”
Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“We need more doctors to join the profession but additionally, we also need more doctors to stay in the profession through their training, ensuring a strong pipeline to consultant roles and safeguarding the future of mental healthcare.
“Psychiatrists have helped radically transform the way mental health conditions are treated, supporting thousands of patients to live fulfilling lives in the community. By joining the profession, you too can be part of this huge achievement.”
The seven-week #ChoosePsychiatry campaign will run until the end of November. This year it launches with two films set in a podcasting studio:
In one film, two medical students interview two psychiatrists to help them decide whether to choose psychiatry.
In the other, two trainees interview more senior consultant psychiatrists about the support available for doctors taking a break during their career.
#ChoosePsychiatry
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896