Psychiatrist

As a psychiatrist, you help people with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Some of your patients will come to hospital or clinic appointments; others you might see in the community. You'll listen carefully to understand what they're going through, ask about their past and their family, and work out what kind of help they need.

Most days you will meet patients one-to-one, write up notes on their progress, and think through the best treatment plan. Some patients need medication - you will prescribe and monitor drugs to make sure they're working and not causing problems. Others need talking therapies, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where you help them change the way they think about things. The job is demanding - you'll meet people in distress and sometimes in crisis - but helping someone recover and get back to normal life is deeply rewarding.