Why I’ll never look at a psychiatric patient the same way again: Insight from an early exposure psychiatry enrichment program

Dear Editor,

I had the distinct opportunity to participate in the second edition of the Early Exposure Psychiatry Enrichment Program (EEPEP), organized by the Department of Psychiatry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, and wish to share my experience.

The landscape of psychiatry in India is often mystified, surrounded by stigma and a lack of awareness. Such barriers, common even among medical students, significantly hinder students’ engagement in psychiatry during medical school and also the quality of patient care.¹ To tackle this issue, I feel that innovative solutions like EEPEP are crucial.²

EEPEP is a voluntary, semiformal program with carefully planned sessions that involve novel teaching-learning methods. The sessions include early clinical exposure, with emphasis on integrating AETCOM (Attitudes, Ethics, and Communication) modules with psychiatry and addressing various contemporary issues related to mental health. This highly structured, 12-week program designed for 20 participants featured a variety of sessions, including small group discussions, debate around mental health stigma, movie screening, resident shadowing, dedicated sessions on reflective writing, self-directed learning, and an integrated session with pharmacology and forensic medicine.

Of all these sessions, I was particularly invested in reflective writing. Reflective writing taught me to cultivate empathy by critically examining my experiences. This has enabled me to understand how to provide better patient care and ultimately become a more efficient health professional. Furthermore, the introduction to self-directed learning was invaluable, as it instilled the discipline and skills to independently diagnose my learning needs, direct my learning process, and be self-efficient.

Also, shadowing a psychiatry resident on the ward gave me a firsthand look at patient management and daily ward duties. I was introduced to the concept of an ergonomically secured psychiatry ward. I had the opportunity to interview patients directly and perform a Mental Status Examination, which helped bridge the gap between theory and practice. I also came to appreciate the multidisciplinary team approach involving psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and psychiatric social workers. By interacting directly with the residents, I learned about the day-to-day life of a psychiatry trainee, the challenges they face, and the rewards of the profession.

Overall, the sessions were comprehensively organized by the faculty coordinator to accommodate our curriculum and educational requirements. Specific objectives were provided in advance of each session, allowing us ample time for resource gathering and preparation. These sessions, lasting just 60 minutes, were made highly productive and relevant through activities like group discussions that promoted teamwork. We also looked forward to the refreshments provided during each session. The program’s thoughtful structure, which included a feedback process after each session, culminated in a closing ceremony where we were all honored with certificates.

Looking back, the impact of this program on my perspective toward psychiatry is undeniable. Before EEPEP, societal stigma and a lack of direct exposure to psychiatry led me to stereotype patients with a degree of fear and discomfort, which I now see as a significant barrier to empathetic care. Through direct interaction with patients, I was able to see the human beyond the patient, an individual with a family, job, and dreams, not just symptoms. Now, I can not only recognize my peers’ indifference but also help them overcome their unconscious biases and become more empathetic. I also came to realize that the most important soft skill of a clinician, not only a psychiatrist, is to listen, empathize, and communicate effectively, and not just prescribe medications. I am confident that the positive impact of this program is a sentiment shared by my fellow participants, as also reported by seniors from the first edition.³

In conclusion, EEPEP is an exceptional program to improve students’ attitude towards psychiatry and an invaluable experience for making informed career decisions, driving medical graduates to navigate psychiatry as a specialty. By bridging the gap between physical health and mental health, the program makes the abstract concepts of psychiatry more tangible and relatable, preparing the students for the reality of clinical practice. I strongly recommend that similar programs be adopted by other institutions to prepare the next generation of physicians.