GMC Mental Health Myth Busting

by Aisia Lea

Dealing with mental health issues is extremely difficult, and as medics there’s an added pressure that if you speak up about the problems that you’re experiencing, you risk being assessed on your fitness to practice.

Here, the GMC answers some questions that you may have about experiencing mental health problems in medical school and when you are a qualified doctor. Medical students and doctors do not have to hide or suppress how they feel or avoid seeking help due to fear of losing their job.

As both a medical student and a doctor, you will not be penalised for speaking about or seeking help if you are experiencing mental health problems.

Having mental health problems as a medic may feel embarrassing, isolating, and bring about a feeling of shame. You do not need to feel this way.

Experiencing a mental health problem does not make you a bad doctor. It is your duty to yourself and your patients to seek help so that you can perform to the best of your ability.

No doctor or medical student should suffer alone out of fear. Both at university and in your career, there are plenty of resources there to support you.

We need to end the stigma surrounding mental health in medicine.

According to the GMC:

A health condition alone is not a fitness to practice issue; As we say in 'Achieving Good Medical Practice', in most cases, health conditions and disabilities do not affect a medical student's fitness to practice, as long as the student: demonstrates appropriate insight, seeks appropriate medical advice, and complies with treatment. The issue escalates into fitness to practice when a student doesn't demonstrate insight into their condition or compromises patient safety by not following medical advice.

Find the GMC’s guidance on mental health here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/mythbusters-faqs_pdf-74122231.pdf.

As always, if you want to share any of your experiences at medical school with us, email us at welfarehub.nottsmed@gmail.com. If you’re struggling with any other issues, have a look at our website to find some resources that may help you.