Psychiatrist job description

People tend to underestimate the prevalence of mental illnesses by quite a bit. This indicates that psychiatrists have a function in society that is becoming more significant.

This is a highly interesting and diversified line of work that gives you the opportunity to have a significant impact on the lives of other people.

In this article, we will explain how to become a psychiatrist, as well as address the following questions:

What exactly is it that psychiatrists do?

What kinds of training and experience are necessary to become a psychiatrist?

How many years of schooling are required to become a psychiatrist?

So, what exactly is it that psychiatrists do?

It's possible that you've seen so-called "shrinks" treating patients from their sofas on TV programs, but the truth is much different from what you may have seen.

A psychiatrist is a kind of physician that specializes in the treatment of patients who suffer from mental illness. Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients is often done within the context of a collaborative effort including many health and social care specialists.

People struggling with a wide variety of mental health issues, such as schizophrenia, depression, addiction to drugs, eating disorders, or phobias, may seek treatment from psychiatrists.

They also have the potential to assist individuals in coping with hardships in their life, such as a divorce or issues within their families.

After that, they could advise patients to seek counseling, write prescriptions for medicine, or take other actionable steps to maintain their health.

Which competencies and attributes am I going to need?

The best psychiatrists take a real interest in their patients' mental and emotional processes.

You are going to need to have outstanding people skills, particularly listening and communication ability.

You will also require a strong investigative skill set, the capacity to work under pressure, an interest in science and medicine, and a commitment to keep your specialized knowledge up to date.

Arthita Das, a psychiatrist, reveals in this video why she chose to get into the field of psychiatry because she has always had a strong interest in people. She is completely engrossed in watching reality TV and pondering the motivations of others.

How long does it take to train to become a psychiatrist, and what kind of education and experience are prerequisites for the job?

To get complete qualifications as a psychiatrist, you will need to perform the following:

A medical degree that takes five years to complete.

A foundational curriculum of general instruction lasting for two years.

A psychiatric subspecialty training program that lasts for a total of six years.

You'll normally need at least five GSCEs, including English, mathematics, and a scientific subject, in addition to three A-levels, with grades of AAB, in subjects that include chemistry, biology, and either physics or math. This is required for the medical degree.

You will work at a hospital for the first two years of the foundation training to build on the essential skills and knowledge you obtained throughout your time as a medical student.

After that, there will be a six-year period of specialized instruction. During this year of your training, you will receive expertise in a variety of psychiatric subspecialties. You would then have the opportunity to choose to specialize in one of the following areas: general adult, old age, children, learning impairment, medical psychotherapy, or forensic.

Could you let me get some job experience?

Yes! Work experience is an excellent opportunity to get a feel for what is involved in the fields of medicine and psychiatry, and it may also offer you an advantage when it comes time to submit your application for a degree in medicine. Volunteering with St. John Ambulance, working as a healthcare assistant in residential care, observing medical procedures at either a hospital or a general practice surgery are some examples of possible placements.

What kind of salary can I expect to receive?

When you first begin your specialty studies in psychiatry, you will get a starting salary of £30,300 per year. The average annual salary for a fully trained psychiatrist is between £37.500 and £70,000.