Using Mental Health Services at a small med School, and Stigma

[EMDO2018]

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Would you guys be okay using the mental health services at your school if you were at a really small < 80, tight knit school? Its just that there is still a certain stigma attached to seeing a therapist and people do treat you differently once they find out you are seeing a therapist. Even worse at the school I'm probably matriculating to, the MHS office is on campus in a very conspicuous location not far away from lecture halls. If you were going there regularly everyone would know.

 

[dyspareunia]

Failing med school because you refused necessary psychiatric help is worse than seeing a therapist.

You had better learn really quickly not to worry about what your classmates think of you or med school is going to be really rough for you.

 

[EMDO2018]

Failing med school because you refused necessary psychiatric help is worse than seeing a therapist.

You had better learn really quickly not to worry about what your classmates think of you or med school is going to be really rough for you.

With the school insurance, I could always seek an outside source

 

[dyspareunia]

With the school insurance, I could always seek an outside source

Then what's the point of this thread?

 

[medickdb]

Personally, I'd have no problem. I'd rather use the help available to me when I need it than to fall in a rut causing more serious problems later.

We're all human, therefore we're all susceptible to mental health issues. We become more susceptible the more stress we're under. A life of medicine is full of stress from medical school to beyond.

Mental health is a real issue everywhere, medicine is certainly no exception.

 

[Catalystik]

Psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses treat more than just mental health issues. They can be the go-to clinician for performance anxiety, post-injury chronic pain meds, premenstral dysphoric disorder, insomnia, and excessive sleepiness, for example. Who's to say what your purpose might be. And there's nothing wrong with some artful misdirection for the sake of a convenient campus location if it makes you more comfortable.

 

[Xenoblade]

Psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses treat more than just mental health issues. They can be the go-to clinician for performance anxiety, post-injury chronic pain meds, premenstral dysphoric disorder, insomnia, and excessive sleepiness, for example. Who's to say what your purpose might be. And there's nothing wrong with some artful misdirection for the sake of a convenient campus location if it makes you more comfortable.

Occam's razor: The simplest solution is often the correct one.

So while what you said is true, and is possible. The most likely reason why a medical student would go to see mental health services office is because that student has mental health needs.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Why should it be anyone's business? If they judge you by it, see it positively because that's someone not worth calling your friend and you don't waste your time talking to them anymore.

 

[DoctorKrieger]

If people treated me differently because I was seeking professional help of any kind, I wouldn't value their opinion anyway. Haters gonna hate.

 

[dyspareunia]

If people treated me differently because I was seeking professional help of any kind, I wouldn't value their opinion anyway. Haters gonna hate.

Everyone will treat you differently if they know you're seeing a therapist. Some will think you're a nut job, some will pity you, and others will worry about pushing you over the edge. People treat you differently for every aspect of your personality and your lifestyle. This is human nature.

 

[DoctorKrieger]

Everyone will treat you differently if they know you're seeing a therapist. Some will think you're a nut job, some will pity you, and others will worry about pushing you over the edge. People treat you differently for every aspect of your personality and your lifestyle. This is human nature.

Well yeah. My point of view is that it I really just wouldn't care about what those people think of my seeing such a professional. There's no getting away from haters, just gotta ignore them and go on.

 

[mrh125]

If you have needs that need to be addressed just go, don't let any stigma interfere with that. if people make fun of you because of them tell them how messed up they are for doing that and don't associate with them.

 

[Quizlet04]

You have a choice:
1) Go to the mental health clinic, get the help you need, and risk stigma
2) Not get help and pray your disease doesn't get bad enough to jeopardize your academic career (this one is a terrible plan, from personal experience)

 

[medickdb]

You have a choice:
1) Go to the mental health clinic, get the help you need, and risk stigma
2) Not get help and pray your disease doesn't get bad enough to jeopardize your academic career (this one is a terrible plan, from personal experience)

No one likes to talk about it, but suicidal ideation is rampant in healthcare. Therefore, your #2 can be more serious than simply derailing one's academic career.

 

[touchpause13]

I'd personally rather see someone outside of the school system. If that's not possible, it's much better to see someone than no one. Don't risk your health just because some people are jerks. Not everyone even gives a damn, I'd say most people don't.

 

[Jay K]

See a mental health professional off campus.

The truth of the matter is that people talk, people are more close-minded than optimists would hope and you would be better served seeking help off campus (as your insurance will allow).

Keep your personal life private.

 

[winterchill]

I understand your reluctance OP. The stigma is a hard one to shake. I agree with seeing someone outside the school (if reasonable) just because it's a personal issue and you should be allowed to deal with it personally.

But if that's not an option, absolutely go to the school mental health clinic. More important than what your peers are saying is your mental well-being. If I can't see a therapist outside of the school, I'll most certainly make use of one on campus. I owe it to my future patients to seek proper help/treatment (much as a surgeon with a tremor) but more importantly to myself.