Blog Post Focus
In this post I shall share considerations on whether or not someone should go to medical school if they are depressed. Depression is a burden. Medical school is a challenge. Together they can be a tough load to bear.
Introduction Something to Make the Tough even Tougher
Depression is tough. It can make everything in life more difficult. Medical school is already difficult enough as it is. Going to medical school depressed is a way to make medical school even tougher. Can it be done? Yes. Should it be done? – that is ultimately up to you.
Forums
A note: when going on reddit or talking to fellow medical providers the overall sense is the same: depression is rampant in medical providers. Emails from different medical societies such as the AMA and the DO commonly have links to articles describing providers struggling with some mental health disorder, such as depression. Doctors do make it through medical school and residency and become attendings regardless of the challenges in their life. Depression can be a considerable challenge to anyone who faces it.
Some Considerations for the Depressed Student
Control
First, how well-controlled is your depression? If it is not well-controlled seek professional help. Even if it is well-controlled it is an extra challenge to face throughout medical school and the rest of your demanding medical career. If it is well-controlled and you have a regimen that works for you and an established support system, then you may handle it.
For The Depressed: A Look Ahead to Future Practice
Second, look ahead to your future practice. If your mental illness is documented then it will likely affect disability insurance down the line. Regardless of the prevalence of the condition or how well-controlled it has been for you, the history of mental illness may preclude you from having disability coverage in the event of psychiatric disturbance, such as depression. Someone with documented depression is a greater risk for insurance companies, so they may exclude coverage of disability in the case of such depressive episode. That may be the way in any profession, but medicine is particularly demanding and it is something to keep in mind.
Support
Third, how is your support system? Do you have someone who can be there for you whenever you need them? Have you needed someone available at all hours before? Is it currently a struggle to care for yourself and your loved ones? Medicine places great demands upon the practitioner. The demands of medicine may affect how well controlled your depression is and how much support you require.
Competing Desires?
Fourth, is there anything else you want to do? Something that may be less demanding on you? Or, is medicine your passion and it is something worthwhile that may make all the time and effort and stress worth it? If medicine gives you purpose it is more worth pursuing than something that only adds additional stressors into your life.
Final Thoughts For Depressed Students
Considering all these things, I share the same message as I have in prior posts:
only attend medical school if it is your only passion or there is nothing else you want to do. Medicine is challenging, harsh, and isolating in many ways.
A depressed physician may have an even more difficult time with all that is required of a provider during medical education. Yet, medicine is not unique in being a demanding job and with placing stressors on those who practice it.
All jobs have a potential to make life more difficult. It is up to you to decide if your depression is something that will or will not prevent you from deciding on pursuing medicine as a profession. Discuss with your physician, family, and any support and mental health professional and make an informed decision, prioritizing your health.
Links
Check out the following link to a JAMA article discussing the depression rate among resident physicians https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2474424.
Also check out this link to an AAMC article where different physicians share their stories of mental health struggles https://www.aamc.org/news/out-shadows-physicians-share-their-mental-health-struggles.
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