Mental health affecting residency progress

[anonobanano]

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PGY-2 in a surgical subspecialty here. I am struggling mightily with my mental health and feel completely lost. I failed step 3 by 3 points and have no time to study for a retake. I am thousands of miles from my support system back home and very unhappy where I am living. I am completely overwhelmed with the learning curve in my specialty now that intern year is over. I feel like I can't make any progress in my residency program because I am constantly in a depressive state and cannot focus on anything but regretting my decisions when I get off work.

I am struggling, and I feel stuck. I feel I made the wrong choice in my specialty, but I'm pretty sure can't pursue another field as I already switched once.

What are my options? Is medical leave a bad idea?

 

[CopaceticOne]

PGY-2 in a surgical subspecialty here. I am struggling mightily with my mental health and feel completely lost. I failed step 3 by 3 points and have no time to study for a retake. I am thousands of miles from my support system back home and very unhappy where I am living. I am completely overwhelmed with the learning curve in my specialty now that intern year is over. I feel like I can't make any progress in my residency program because I am constantly in a depressive state and cannot focus on anything but regretting my decisions when I get off work.

I am struggling, and I feel stuck. I feel I made the wrong choice in my specialty, but I'm pretty sure can't pursue another field as I already switched once.

What are my options? Is medical leave a bad idea?

1) Get local professional help. Does your institutions GME organization have mental health services you can connect with?

2) Talk with your program about the failure of Step 3 and if something can be done to help you succeed next attempt. They need you to pass at some point, and they will be aware of the failed attempt.

3) While you’re figuring out the above points, schedule periodic FaceTime catch-ups with people of your support system that are far away. Seeing their faces and interacting can have a restorative effect and give you something to look forward to outside of the work related things.

4) Get sleep, try to eat well, bathe, etc.