I Promise Myself: The Mental Health Contract

By Grace Scolyer

It’s been 16 months since I sat, tachycardic and sweating in a superclinic GP’s office, asking for a K-10 test and mental health treatment plan. 16 months since I was met with a suppressed laugh, obligatory printout, and subsequent arrangement of an urgent follow-up with another GP with more mental health experience. My exterior did not seem to fit up with my K-10 score; the difference between by 2pm brain and my 2am brain something quite concerning. High functioning, clinically depressed.

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The secrets we keep: Hiding your personal life in medicine

By Stephen Surace, Writing Competition Honourable Mention 2016

Topic 1: Write about your experiences studying medicine with a disability, mental illness or as a part of a marginalised group

At first I was excited by the opportunity to write about being a minority in medicine. Finally, a chance to release all the drama and excitement that I must surely have bottled up. However there was just one problem: except for one noteworthy time, I have kept my sexuality very separate from medicine.

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