As a Psychiatrist, you basically diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind.

People will seek your help for many reasons. The problems can be sudden, such as a panic attack, frightening hallucinations, thoughts of suicide, or hearing "voices." Or they may be more long-term, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiousness that never seem to lift or problems functioning, causing everyday life to feel distorted or out of control.

Sourced from the American Psychiatric Association

Students often ask us: "Should I become a Psychiatrist or a Clinical Psychologist?"

If you want to be a medical doctor and love biology and chemistry, you might want to consider becoming a Psychiatrist. A Clinical Psychologist, on the other hand, has a deeper understanding of the emotional and cognitive causes of psychological problems, and so you might enjoy this more if you like talking to people and understanding what is going on inside their heads.

As a Psychiatrist, some of the challenges you might face include:

• Being lied to by your patients - They may do this out of fear of embarrassment or changes in medical treatment
• Ethics is a major issue in the daily practice of psychiatry
• The educational path to become a Psychiatrist, compared to a Clinical Psychologist, will cost more and will also take more time

Compared to other Mental Health practioners, Psychiatrists: 

• Make more money
• Are allowed to prescribe medication
• Are thus seen as 'higher status' than psychologists within a hospital setting

In order to become a Psychiatrist in Lebanon, the Ministry of Health requires the following:

Education 

• Medical degree required (MD and Psychiatry with Psychiatry degree registered at the Lebanese Order of Psychiatrists 

Experience 

• 1-3 years 

Competencies

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent communication, problem solving, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills 
• Cultural sensitivity
• Ability to adhere to ethical considerations and principles with regard to work with vulnerable populations

Computer skills 

• Basic Microsoft office and internet use 

Language 

• Fluency in Arabic and in English, French is a plus