What it Takes to Be a Psychiatrist

By: Vy Lam

In today’s world, mental health problems are increasing at a rapid rate, often going unnoticed. Psychiatrists are doctors who work with patients to understand and treat mental illnesses with the proper care. They may look like an average physician, but the amount of people they save every year is actually quite shocking. For those who are passionate about helping others with their mental health, this article is just for you.

For a better understanding of what they do, psychiatrists are a type of physician who specializes in mental health. They provide a diagnostic of one’s mental health and often order certain tests depending on the individual. Once a diagnosis is made (like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.), the psychiatrist will work with the patient to make a treatment plan. Treatment comes in many forms such as medication, therapy referrals, and lifestyle changes. Psychiatrists will then schedule follow-up appointments to see how the patient is responding to the changes. This gives them a clear visual of whether they need to make adjustments to the medication. If needed, psychiatrists will often work in a collaborative mode with other health specialists like neurologists, social workers, or psychotherapists to ensure people get the help they need.

If you want to become a psychiatrist, the journey is long, but every step matters. You start off with getting your bachelor’s degree from a college or university. Most people go into STEM-related majors like psychology or biology to build a strong foundation in how the human body works. However, many have shared their experience that you don’t always have to choose a science major. Choosing an English, music, and even an art major is still as useful as long as you take the required pre-med courses needed. After that, you’ll need to take the MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admission Test. This test is required to get into medical school as it is one of the most crucial steps in this process. Once taken, you will then enter medical school where the first two years will contain learning the foundation of medicine and science. During this, many students will begin gaining experience on clinical skills. It is important for them to develop the basic knowledge needed for the last two years of medical school, clinical rotations (also known as Clerkship). Medical students will start working in hospitals with supervision and rotate through different specialties like psychiatry. For aspiring future psychiatrists, it’s important to do well during that rotation as it can significantly increase your chances of being accepted into a psychiatry residency. Residency is the next step after you receive your M.D. (Medicine of Doctor degree) from medical school, where you train full-time in your chosen specialty under the supervision of experienced doctors. During this time, you will get to experience the reality of dealing with mentally-ill patients in a clinical setting. It gives student’s the perfect opportunity to let them know this is the type of work they will be dealing with once they’ve completed their education. Psychiatry residency is typically 4 years long unless you choose to specialize in a specific area like addiction, forensics, or geriatric psychiatry. This is known as a fellowship and typically lasts 1-2 additional years. Lastly, you need to obtain a medical license in order to work as a psychiatrist and there are different ways to achieve this. The most common way to get your license in the U.S. is by passing the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). It’s a 3 step exam series that tests your knowledge of basic science, medical comprehension, and ability to practice unsupervised. While the other way is through the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA), is the less common way as it is usually taken by students who go to an osteopathic medical school and earn a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). It has 3 levels similar to the USMLE and covers mostly the same material with a few differences. However, both exams serve the same purpose which is to ensure future doctors are prepared to provide the best care for their patients. There is truly no ‘right’ way to receive your license between the two.

Like any other job, being a psychiatrist is no easy task. The environment they work in can be overwhelming, as they face many patients struggling with intense trauma, deep emotional pain, or distorted perceptions of reality. Some situations may even lead them to question their own morality or boundaries. Because of this, many are discouraged from pursuing psychiatry, as the emotional labor required can be incredibly demanding. In addition, the growing shortage of psychiatrists and the rising number of individuals with mental health issues are unfortunate outcomes of the negative stereotypes and widespread misinformation surrounding psychiatric disorders. These challenges highlight why the role of a psychiatrist is not only demanding, but deeply vital to the well-being of individuals and society.

Overall, psychiatrists play a vital part in our society as they heal people emotionally and mentally, even if their work may go unnoticed. The road to becoming a psychiatrist is no easy accomplishment as it involves many years of hard work dedicated to having the ability to change their lives for the better. They’ve been trained to assist others with their health and provide them the necessary care. For those who truly care about the state of others, psychiatry isn't just a job, but a calling to help our community.

Works Cited:

“Psychiatrist Salary Guide 2024.” PsychologyJobs.com, 5 Feb. 2024, psychologyjobs.com/psychiatrist-salary/#How_much_do_psychiatrists_make.

Clinic, Cleveland. “What Is a Psychiatrist? What They Do & When to See One.” 

Cleveland Clinic, 14 Apr. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22702-psychiatrist#overview. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Bell, Ashley. “What Is a Psychiatrist?” UCLA Med School, 25 May 2023, medschool.ucla.edu/news-article/what-is-a-psychiatrist.

Sievert, Diane. “Psychologist vs Psychiatrist.” UCLA Med School, 22 May 2023, medschool.ucla.edu/news-article/psychologist-vs-psychiatrist-what-is-the-difference.

National Institute of Mental Health. “Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, Sept. 2024, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness