Bipolar Disorder

[Lima]

I'm a medical student and I'd like to know will a diagnosis with bipolar disorder or any other mental illness prevent me from proceeding to the clinical phase of my medical degree?

[hailz101]

Its a complete myth that students with health difficulties wont be able to go on clinical placements and stuff.
They will refer you to occupational health and they will do an assesment to see how they can help you. Dont worry.

[waveygravey]

good question, i guess the original poster was worried about fitness to practice. Which at Brum they rave about.

Like Haliz101 says dont worry lima!

[Chang]

yeah, i remember that going round our school while i was applying- if you have depression your not allowed on placements. what a load of balls - half the medical profession has deppression!

[Chulalongkorn]

I can not comment on individual circumastances but I can say I have worked with many clinical medical students and doctors over the years with mental health problems including some with bipolar affective disorder.

If you have any concerns I'd strongly recommend you have a chat with the Occupational Health doctor. Please don't worry over the issue when there is probably no problem to worry about in the first place. Don't let it distract you from your studies, get your questions answered by someone in a position to answer them, rather than us on here!

[Lima]

Originally Posted by Chulalongkorn

I can not comment on individual circumastances but I can say I have worked with many clinical medical students and doctors over the years with mental health problems including some with bipolar affective disorder.

If you have any concerns I'd strongly recommend you have a chat with the Occupational Health doctor. Please don't worry over the issue when there is probably no problem to worry about in the first place. Don't let it distract you from your studies, get your questions answered by someone in a position to answer them, rather than us on here!

Thanks a lot

Can you tell me how I can find an Occupational Health doctor?

[Bex x]

There will be an occy health doc at the uni you're at (or applying to?) I suffer from major depression (which may actually be PTSD related?) and I have a friend with bipolar and a friend with schizophrenia - we've all been occy health OKed!

[Lima]

Originally Posted by Bex x

There will be an occy health doc at the uni you're at (or applying to?) I suffer from major depression (which may actually be PTSD related?) and I have a friend with bipolar and a friend with schizophrenia - we've all been occy health OKed!

How can I get access to them? Are you and your friends allowed on placements?

Thanks for your post

[Bex x]

Course we are We do all the same stuff all the other students do... the only thing I don't do on placement is assisting in theatre, and that's nowt to do with my depression, it's because I'm deaf and can't lipread through a mask, ergo don't trust myself to understand the instructions.

If you're already at uni, just call into occy health (you will probably have met them about jabs or something) and ask for an appointment, explain why. If you're still applying, send an email to admissions tutors asking for the contact details of the occy health dept.

And keep positive, because the world needs doctors with all sorts of patient experiences. One day, the fact that you've been through the bipolar thing will mean you're a better doctor to a patient with the same issues, than you otherwise would have been.

If at any point you want a chat about it all, PM me and I'll give you my MSN details

[Lima]

Originally Posted by Bex x

Course we are We do all the same stuff all the other students do... the only thing I don't do on placement is assisting in theatre, and that's nowt to do with my depression, it's because I'm deaf and can't lipread through a mask, ergo don't trust myself to understand the instructions.

If you're already at uni, just call into occy health (you will probably have met them about jabs or something) and ask for an appointment, explain why. If you're still applying, send an email to admissions tutors asking for the contact details of the occy health dept.

And keep positive, because the world needs doctors with all sorts of patient experiences. One day, the fact that you've been through the bipolar thing will mean you're a better doctor to a patient with the same issues, than you otherwise would have been.

If at any point you want a chat about it all, PM me and I'll give you my MSN details

Bex x, Thank you very much, it gave me peace of mind. I'm already at the uni, will try to keep in touch with you when I feel better.

Thanks again