Things I wish I’d known: desiderata for early career psychiatrists

Abstract

The mentorship and advice from senior colleagues can be highly influential. In order to sustain a career that has reward, meaning and longevity, psychiatrists would do well to pay attention to aspects of self-care, stay connected to their loved ones, seek an optimal work-life balance and take an interest in their long term career plans.

Dear Mental Health Practitioners, Take Care of Yourselves: a Literature Review on Self-Care

“…Researchers have recommended a variety of methods for improving awareness among mental health practitioners, including participation in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy course (Pakenham 2017), mindfulness and meditation training (Boellinghaus et al 2013) and self-reflection (Knapp et al 2017;Ng et al 2017). Creative writing is another practice that has been recommended to foster awareness among counsellors (Warren et al 2010).…”

“…Practitioners are encouraged to engage in meaningful work as a form of self-care (Dombo and Gray 2013;Ng et al 2017). Pakenham (2017) proposes that awareness of one's values can play a key role in motivating clinical psychology trainees to engage in behaviours that are fulfilling and that the connection with one's personal and professional values plays a role in the maintenance of well-being.…”

Leadership mindset in mental health

“…4,28 Early career psychiatrists have declared their vested interest in the future of psychiatry. 25 We acknowledge that psychiatrists starting their careers may not necessarily connect leadership with mindset. However, we believe mindset to be at the vanguard of leadership, from which emerge possibilities to innovate and inspire.…”

“…10 Psychiatrists at the early stages of their career shape their identity as leaders, starting with the ability to understand, manage and project oneself and then work with others to attain a shared vision. 11 This transition involves adaptation 25,26 and awareness of the need to invest in opportunities to nurture nascent qualities of leadership. 27 If we are to provide sustainable high-quality care in turbulent times, leadership is more than developing competency in running a team.…”

Barriers and facilitators to conducting research by early career psychiatrists: a literature review

“…Mentoring is a way for trainees to gain knowledge about research skills and to learn ways to manage a work-life balance through the advice of senior colleagues who may have established a balanced research-clinician life (Ng et al, 2017). Research mentoring can be improved by structured guidance on how to act and what to expect as a mentor and a mentee (van Schalkwyk et al, 2016), which could be provided by professional organisations.…”