The medical profession is both noble and necessary: you can make a huge difference in the lives of others through your education, skills, and empathy. However, there is a huge variety of specialties, each with its own benefits and challenges.
Of all medical specialties, psychiatry has quite ancient roots: the first manuals on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness were published in Greece in the 4th century BCE. While the field has faced significant changes – and challenges – throughout the centuries, it remains an essential component of healthcare, particularly as 1 in 4 Americans will suffer from at least one mental illness in their lifetime.
Today, we’ll explore the different facets of providing mental healthcare, from the field’s future to its pros and cons.
What is Psychiatry?
Psychiatrists treat various mental health conditions through medication and referrals to other specialists, such as therapists and counselors. Some illnesses that the average psychiatrist may encounter include depression, anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). There are also less well-known conditions, such as hypersexuality and paraphilias, which a mental health professional will work to alleviate.
Outlook of the Psychiatry Profession
The psychiatry specialty has a rosy outlook as mental health becomes a mainstream topic and more Americans seek treatment. The field is expected to grow by 8.7% between 2021 and 2031; of all professions, it is ranked #7 for pay, and the median salary is over $200,000 a year. Unemployment for psychiatrists is incredibly low at just 3%.
Needless to say, you can find many exceptional psychiatrist positions throughout the country. There are also specialties that can garner you even greater pay and prestige, such as adolescent psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, and forensic psychiatry.
Pros of a Career in Psychiatry
As with all medical professions, the most significant benefit is that you are working to improve the lives of others. This is especially pronounced in psychiatry, as you ensure that individuals can be productive, fulfilled, and healthy while living with a mental illness. It can be incredibly rewarding to work with severely mentally ill individuals who would otherwise be unable to hold down a job, pursue education, or have meaningful relationships with others, helping them achieve their dreams and go into remission.
Some psychiatrists enjoy the challenge of diagnosing individuals and then finding the proper medication regimen for them. It takes good training, a keen eye, and a strong sense of empathy to devise a treatment plan, choosing between hundreds of different medications to find the right mix for any patient.
More materialistically, a strong career outlook, excellent pay, and top-notch benefits ensure psychiatrists are duly rewarded for their many years of education and practice. Some psychiatrists work remotely, enabling a good work-life balance, while others enjoy a hybrid work environment that affords them some flexibility. Those in private practice have more control over their schedules and can build in time to fulfill their own family obligations.
Cons of a Career in Psychiatry
While psychiatry can be very enjoyable, it has downsides. Firstly, becoming a psychiatrist takes at least 12 years of training, including four years of undergraduate studies, four years of medical school, and four more years of residency and certification. You must also complete a board certification exam from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Many psychiatrists complete a fellowship to further specialize, though it is not strictly necessary to call yourself a psychiatrist.
In terms of work conditions, it can be a very stressful job. Medical school is famously grueling, requiring intense schoolwork, examinations, and rotations; residency is also very taxing, thanks to a high workload and long hours.
Once you become a full psychiatrist, you may continue to have an intense schedule, especially in more rural areas with insufficient staffing. Most outpatient psychiatrists see between 8-12 patients daily, while inpatient psychiatrists see around 15-18 patients daily. Your average caseload can be in the hundreds because you typically only see your patients monthly or quarterly, depending on the severity of their illness. This can mean memorizing hundreds of case files and double-checking everything to prevent medication errors.
Emotionally, being a psychiatrist can be quite draining. You see individuals at their worst; some patients may be combative or non-compliant. It is also not uncommon to lose patients by suicide or drug overdose, which can devastate medical professionals doing their best to help those under their care lead fulfilling lives. Psychiatrists perform heavy emotional labor day in and day out, and they must remain on top of their own mental health to ensure they can be there for their patients.
It takes a special person to go into healthcare, and this is even more so for psychiatry, which has many challenges – but many benefits, too. Career prospects are excellent for this field, and many professionals believe that the downsides are more than compensated by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it the most.
