Winter School boosts students' awareness of psychiatry

Over 120 medical students attended the Centre's 2016 Winter School to learn more about the importance of psychiatry in modern medicine and the wider society.

Led by our undergraduate psychiatry team, Dr James Walters, Dr Liz Forty and Dr Mat Hoskins, the Winter School was open to all medical students.

On the first day of the two-day event, there was a screening of the film K-Pax, followed by pizza and a lively panel discussion chaired by Dr Mat Hoskins. 

The following day gave students the opportunity to hear talks from people with lived experience of mental health problems and their families, including Jo Lyall talking about her experience of post-natal psychosis, Zoe Piper discussing ADHD and Laura Dernie sharing her experience of post-natal depression. Early career psychiatrists Dr Tom Burden and Dr Jude Harrison also gave an insight into postgraduate and academic training in psychiatry.

Students also met with practicing psychiatrists from a variety of specialties to discuss their day-to-day work and learn more about the breadth of opportunities available in psychiatry.

The day was rounded off by a Question Time style debate on topical issues in psychiatry. Led by Professor Ian Jones, the panel included Professor Anita Thapar, Dr Paul Emmerson, Dr Mat Hoskins, Dr Ceri Evans and Dr Maria Atkins. 

"Issues of mental health feature prominently in the jobs of all doctors, and I hope that the Winter School has helped students to begin developing the skills and interest in psychiatry that will serve them throughout their careers" said Dr James Walters, Undergraduate Lead for Psychiatry. 

The next Winter School in Psychiatry will take place in January 2017.