Dr Brittany Tasesa Stanley-Wishart is a psychiatry registrar at Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand.

A day in my life as a psychiatrist-in-training is highly variable. This is because I am based with a mental health team specifically attached to the Emergency Department (ED) of a busy urban hospital in Aoteaora New Zealand, but also because I am a psychiatrist-in-training only part-time which allows me to pursue other activities that I am passionate about. 

When I am at the hospital, we start the day with a handover within the mental health team of all clients in ED who need mental health input. Assessments are then divided amongst the team – considering factors such as the type of clinician required, wait times, medical clearance or whether they are fit for assessment, and whether the Mental Health Act or inpatient admission may be necessary. We then meet with the ED consultant of the day to review current management plans and identify any potential referrals. Following the morning meetings, the day tends to mirror an after-hours shift, i.e. seeing whichever clients need doctor input, except with a full complement of day staff available. Given it is based in the ED, it acts as an acute/crisis service and often involves liaising with ED doctors and sometimes other specialties if their input is needed.  

When I am not in the hospital, I focus on maintaining my well-being through activities such as going to the gym or other intentional movement practices and connecting with family and friends. I am also involved in several on-going projects that either give back to my community, bring me joy, or help provide additional income. Recently this has included preparing my masters thesis – on the cultural responsiveness of positive psychology – for publication, contributing to academic work related to Pasifika mental health, preparing to help roll out a mental health survey in the Pacific, serving as a board member for the YWCA Greater Wellington, and developing a small business focused on normalising conversations around mental health, cultivating self-worth and strengthening relationships by blending Indigenous wisdom and western knowledge through affirmation cards, reflective journals and workshops. 

My life as a psychiatrist in training is highly variable. I am grateful for a training program that allows me to evolve in all aspects of my life; deepening my clinical practice and being responsive to the evolving needs of the mental health system itself.