Choosing a career in psychiatry: expect the unexpected

Abstract

Psychiatry is often thought to be a polarising specialty. You may have noticed some of your friends becoming quickly enthused by their mental health attachments, or conversely, being equally quick to declare that a career as a psychiatrist is just not for them. But do not give up reading if you are still sitting on the fence. In this editorial, we reflect on what brought us into psychiatry and how we have found this career choice. As you will see, while some of us took to it straight away, others came to the profession unconvinced before realising psychiatry was the right choice. We explain the benefits and challenges from our own experience and offer advice to medical students contemplating a career in psychiatry.