I'm a doctor, and I take medication for my mental health

I’ve been in my head for weeks about posting this but I’m done waiting.

1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with a mental health illness at some point in their life. Yet many of us will never take medication that can help correct the chemical imbalance in our brains due to medication stigma. The fear that taking medications for our mental health somehow makes us weak and feel ashamed.

This stigma is rampant in the medical field. Opening up about your mental health as a medical professional, especially as a doctor who treats mental illness, can be taboo. As a doctor training to be a Psychiatrist, most in the field would counsel me to not post this. Some would view it as a risk for my career. But I didn’t join this field to continue the status quo. I am part of a generation of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals that are not afraid to be vulnerable and discuss mental health. Many consider me a leader in this generation. So here’s me leading by example:

My name is Dr. Jake, I’m a physician who treats mental illness, and I take medication for my mental health. And by the way, I’m proud of it. Medications aren’t for everyone, but they can be a powerful tool in combination with therapy and other self care techniques to treat mental health issues. If this post helped you, please consider sharing it with a friend or loved one. #mentalhealth #doctor #shorts #psychiatry