Why access support?

Medical training is both academically rigorous and emotionally challenging. It is important to seek support when you need it - most students will need support at some point during their studies, whether that be practical support following an injury or emotional support for feelings of overwhelm.

We often hear that students hesitate to access support due to concerns about how it might reflect on them or their future careers - especially if it involves symptoms of, or a diagnosis related to mental health. However, it is important to know that these concerns are often based on misconceptions. 

The General Medical Council (GMC) and Medical Schools Council have addressed this in their joint publication Supporting medical students with mental health conditions. You can access the document via their PDF version of the document. On page 6 of this document, it states:

“In society, and the medical profession in particular, there are still lots of misconceptions about mental health. Medical students are often reluctant to ask for help – we believe this has to change. The GMC also has its part to play. We need to be clear to the profession that having a mental health condition does not necessarily mean that a doctor’s fitness to practice is impaired. If a doctor recognises that they have a problem, has an understanding of their condition and asks for help, then in most cases we will not get involved. This applies equally to medical students throughout their training, including their postgraduate training."

Seeking support is not a sign of weakness - it is a proactive step toward both professional and personal growth. If you'd like to explore the support options available to you, please book an appointment with a Student Support Officer (SSO) using this MS Bookings webpage. You don't need to have all the answers beforehand - your SSO will help you talk through your concerns and guide you through the available options.