"Obstacle Overcome" Secondary Essay: Can I write about mental health?

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neuronerd24

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I've been having some trouble coming up with material for those "greatest struggle"/"obstacle overcome" essays... Do you think it is appropriate to share my struggles with mental health?

I have dealt with depression and anxiety for a long time, but now I'm almost entirely over it and a much stronger person because of it..

Do you think discussing such topics would put me at a disadvantage/make me look weak?

Thanks for your input.
 
I have been told from other folks here that depression and mental illness that you've personally dealt with, although a real issue to overcome, are topics to avoid in application essays.

It's overdone (many people use it as an excuse for poor grades when they are not otherwise diagnosed, etc etc./other technicalities), and it could raise a few flags among AdComs who would wonder how mentally stable you will be in Med School. The stress and intensity of Med School is much harsher than undergrad - who can say that you won't become depressed again once you're accepted?

It's harsh and invalidating to those with real struggles, but it's also the game you have to know how to beat to get your foot in the door (so to speak).
 
There are a ton of other threads out there about this subject. You should not write about something that could make you look like you many not be ablet to withstand the stress and pressure inherent in medical school. A history of depression may make the ADCOMs worry that you are more likey to fall into depression in medical school. Additionally, lots of people claim to be depressed when they don't actually have clinical depression (I'm not claiming that this is you, as I don't know you, and even if I did, I'm not a psychiatrist).
 
Never, ever, write about personal mental health challenges. There are threads about this everywhere. Use the search function.

The adcoms will always question your ability to face the rigors of medical school with any sort of chronic or transient issue--which sounds like what you have.

Consult this thread for ideas. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=910690
 
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