mentioning mental illness in personal statement

How to Discuss Your Mental Health on College Applications

Should you write about depression in your personal statement? Should you disclose mental health challenges elsewhere on your college application? Here’s what experts say.

Within the next few months, many rising high school seniors will be staring at a blank computer screen with the same question on their minds: What should I write about in my college application essay?  This question can feel heavy.  After all, by the time students approach the end of their junior year, they’ve surely heard lots about “THE” college essay.  The concept can feel overwhelming so it’s no surprise that many students struggle when it comes to choosing the perfect topic.

For students who experienced a mental health challenge while in high school, this question takes on another dimension. Should they talk about how they coped with say, depression, or any other mental health condition? Should they refer to it only in passing? Should they avoid mentioning it at all?  What is the best way to handle such an important topic?

While this is a very complicated topic, the college planning experts I talked with all offered similar advice.

The Purpose of a College Application Essay

Before thinking about whether or not you should write about mental health in your college essay, you should remember what the essay — or the “personal statement”— is all about in the first place.  What is the purpose of the essay?

No matter which prompt students select, and for all college applicants, those with or without mental health challenges, the essay is the only part of the application in which college admissions officers have the opportunity to hear the voices of the student. The rest of the application contains numbers, statistics, and comments from teachers and counselors.

This is why the personal statement, as college planning experts concur, is where you should share part of your true self in the most positive light. Think about what a college wants to know about you as a person, or what a university would gain by having you become a part of the campus community.  Dig deep to figure out what makes you, you.

Use your essay as an opportunity to bring your college application to life. Try to strive for it to represent you in an authentic yet optimistic way. One former reader of applications at a top university’s admission office shared a fun way to see if your essay checks out.  She asked me, “Does the essay pass the midnight test”?

Picture an exhausted admissions officer with a stack of unread application files on her desk. She is reading yours at midnight at the end of a 16-hour day. Does your essay draw the officer in and make her eager to read until the end of your essay to learn more about you? Will she be eager enough for her to conclude that, yes, we want this student on our campus next fall? Or does your essay sound far too similar to some of the others she’s read that day?

The purpose of your essay is to take the reader beyond the numbers (test scores and GPA) and into who you are as a real live human being.

Experts on Writing About Mental Health

All counselors interviewed for this piece agreed that students’ college essays should not be about their struggles with mental health. Wendy Kahn , a Chicago-based college planner, and Anna Seltz, of Higher Ed U , a college consulting organization in Philadelphia, both spoke about how students should try to talk about themselves in a positive light, taking the opportunity to showcase one of their many outstanding qualities, like intellectual curiosity, personal growth, or maturity.

A couple of the counselors — Bruce Vinik of Vinik Educational Services and Marsha Shaines of College Strategies in Kensington, Maryland — said that the only case in which a student should consider writing about her mental health challenges is if the struggle truly defines her as a person. Even then, both counselors saw this as the rare exception, and suggest that instead, most students should take advantage of the opportunity to explore one of the many other attributes that makes them unique. Vinik says that mental health problems should only be shared in the essay if the college would not be able to understand the applicant without knowing about this part of her. Generally, he discourages selecting this as a primary topic.

The Additional Information Section

All of the college planners mentioned above agree that if your mental health struggle in high school clearly impacted your performance, then you should mention it in the “Additional Information” portion of the Common Application — but only in a factual manner. If you missed three months of your sophomore year to deal with a mental health condition, you should explain that you spent those months dealing with a “health challenge,” overcame it, and are now back on track, advises Vinik.

The three other college counselors generally agreed with this sentiment. All expressed that if the mental health challenges have made an impact on your grades, involvement in class, attendance, or ability to participate in school activities, you should provide a short, factual summary (no more than two paragraphs) for background purposes, always emphasizing your recovery after these difficult moments and your preparedness for a college environment.

Seltz suggests that talking about this in your admissions interview may be another route that applicants can explore. Seltz recommends taking an approach like the one outlined for personal statements above: Briefly explain how the challenge affected your grades and focus mostly on the fact that those problems are now under control.  Making sure to emphasize the way/s that the challenge helped you to grow as a person is also important.

All of the college planners suggest that you talk with your high school counselor to ensure that what you are saying about mental illness in the college application is consistent with what the counselor may or may not say in her own counselor recommendation. Or, if you’d prefer that the counselor not address your mental health issues, request that as well. School counselors are almost always open to any guidance you may have for what you’d like them to include in or leave out of your letter of recommendation.

Dealing With Mental Health Challenges Past the Application

Being told that you cannot share a part of yourself that may have had a large impact on your life can be difficult to hear. Unfortunately, mental health is a stigmatized topic, and it’s difficult to explore its nuances and complexities in the short and streamlined format of a college application.  It is also extremely important to remember that with or without mental health challenges, you are far more complex than a 650-word personal statement.

The fact that you are not writing about it on your application doesn’t mean that colleges don’t want the “real” you, or that you will be unable to succeed. A mental health condition does not disqualify you from having an excellent collegiate experience by any means, the same way that a physical limitation would not interfere with your success as a student. As you explore your college options, be sure to look for campuses that are particularly mental-health friendly, and focus on finding resources you can rely on as a student. From counseling services to wellness organizations, many campuses make student mental health a priority, and selecting this kind of college will help you embrace your challenges and thrive in a new environment.

If you are worried that your problems are not yet under control — and that college may exacerbate them — you may want to consider taking a gap year and working with a local counselor to prepare for the big transition.  There are lots of really wonderful gap year programs for students in this exact position. If you think you might be interested in this option, talk with your school counselor about exploring what programs are available to you.

Be personal in your college application essay — but do so in an optimistic and positive way. The purpose of the essay is to convince the reader that you belong on their campus next fall. Don’t leave the reader with any unanswered questions or red flags about you.  Be clear about who you are and your will to enhance whatever campus you find yourself on.  This is the best way to tell the story of who you are.

If there are circumstances that need to be explained — such as time off, a drop in grades, or diminished participation in extracurricular activities, do so in a factual and concise manner in the “Additional Information” section.

Yes, you may have experienced a mental health challenge, and/or you may be going to college with mental illness. But don’t let that singularly define you as a person. You have the propensity to offer much more to a college than your diagnosis. And the personal statement essay is the place to show the college who you are as an individual, why you are ready for college, and what strong and special qualities you will bring to the campus community if accepted.

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Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Shravya Kakulamarri in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

What are you required to disclose in your application.

• Should You Include Mental Health History in Your Application?

How to Talk about Mental Health in College Applications

Taking care of your health in college.

Many students wonder if they should discuss mental health or disability in their college applications. Mental health history or a disability might be an integral part of who a student is, but that doesn’t necessarily make it relevant to a college application. Keep in mind that it is actually illegal for colleges to ask for these types of details about your life because it can be considered discrimination. So, colleges will never directly ask if you’ve had any sort of mental health issue or if you’ve ever had a disability. Based on this reason alone, you are not required to disclose mental or physical health concerns on your application. 

Disclosing your mental or physical health is strictly a matter of personal choice. If you leave out this information, it is not lying and 100% within your legal right to do so. 

Should You Include Mental Health History in Your Application? 

Before you choose whether to disclose your history of mental health or disability, you should think about the purpose of a college application. Everything that you put in your college application should contribute to an overall positive image of who you are as a student and member of the community. 

You usually don’t want to hide integral parts of who you are, but you also don’t want to be sharing challenges that are not going to strengthen your application. This is true not only for mental health or disabilities but also for academics, extracurriculars, and other experiences. Normally, students don’t bring up the time that they got a C or D in a class on their application. Everything that you include on your application should paint the most positive image of you possible. You always want to put your best foot forward and keep the focus on your strengths. 

You don’t want colleges to doubt your ability to succeed and perform well under pressure. If you mention any mental health concerns, they might use that as a way to question if you will do well at their school and be able to handle their rigorous course load. While colleges are supportive of their students’ mental health challenges and provide resources and services, you don’t want their first impression of you on your application to be something that makes them uncertain of your abilities. So, keep this in mind when deciding whether to disclose your mental health history. 

If you decide to include your mental health or disability history in your application , there are specific aspects of your experience that you should focus on. Rather than talking about the mental illness itself, focus more on the recovery and management aspects and what you have learned from the experience. 

Discuss things like how you have grown and the coping methods that you have cultivated due to the experience. These will give the admissions officer an idea of the types of strategies that you’ll likely use in college anytime that you encounter a stressful situation. 

Overall, if you choose to talk about mental health in your applications, focus on the learning and growth that you’ve gained because of it. 

Mental health is an important part of your well-being, and it’s essential to start good habits in high school . This way, you’ll be better prepared to cope when you face new challenges in college. You’ll likely be experiencing living on your own for the first time and have new responsibilities without the same support system that you had at home. It’s crucial to learn how to take care of your mental health early.

Fortunately, most students will have many resources at college to help them through mental health challenges. If you’re dealing with any mental health struggles, there is usually an office of wellness where you can schedule a time to see a therapist. This is usually provided with your school’s health insurance. If this is something that you are concerned about for your college experience, make sure to look into what mental health resources each college provides before applying. 

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Should you discuss mental health issues in your college essay?

by Erica L. Meltzer | Oct 20, 2018 | Blog , College Essays | 6 comments

Image ©Nickshot, Adobe Stock

Note, January 2022: This post was written in 2018, before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Obviously, many things have changed since then, not least the amount of psychological pressure that many high school students have experienced. Clearly, some of the boundaries and expectations surrounding acceptable/advisable topics for admissions essays have shifted, and applicants undoubtedly have more leeway in discussing mental-health issues than they did in the past. That said, I would still caution against making this subject the exclusive focus of your essay(s). If it happens to be relevant—and it very well might be, given the events of the last couple of years— then you should focus on discussing it in a mature way that conveys qualities such as empathy and resilience, and that demonstrates your ability to reflect insightfully on what may have been very difficult situations.  

As regular readers of my blog may know, I periodically trawl the forums over at College Confidential to see what’s trending. Recently, I’ve noticed a concerning uptick in the number of students asking whether it’s appropriate for them to write about mental health issues, most frequently ADD and/or anxiety, in their college applications.

So the short answer: don’t do it.

The slightly longer version:

If you’re concerned about a drop in grades or an inconsistent transcript, talk to your guidance counselor. If these types of issues are addressed, the GC’s letter is the most appropriate place for them. If, for any reason, the GC is unable/unwilling to discuss them and the issues had a significant impact on your performance in school that unequivocally requires explanation, you can put a brief, matter of fact note in the “is there any additional information you’d like us to know?” section, but think very carefully about how you present it. Do not write your main essay about the issue.

The full version:

To understand why these topics should generally be avoided, you need to understand what information colleges are actually seeking to gain from the personal statement. Although it is technically a personal narrative, it is, in a sense, also a persuasive essay: its purpose is to convey what sets you apart from the thousands of others with equally good grades and scores, and to suggest whether you have qualities that make you more likely to thrive at university x than the other 10 or 15 or even 20 applicants clamoring for that spot.

Now, whether such thing can actually be determined from 650 words (with which some students receive significant help) is of course questionable; however, the bottom line is that, adcoms are looking for students who will be successful in college. Discussing one’s inability to focus or intense aversion to social situations does not exactly inspire confidence, even if a student insists those problems have been overcome. Leaving home, dealing with professors and roommates and more challenging classes… Those are all major stressors. There is a tacit understanding that of course some students will flame out, have breakdowns, etc., but adcoms are understandably hesitant to admit anyone who is already at a higher risk for those issues. You want them to be excited about the prospect of admitting you, not debate whether you’ll really be able to handle college. (In fact, I had multiple students with various issues who were not truly ready for college and who did flame out — colleges have good reason to take these things seriously.)

This concern goes beyond any particular student’s well-being: graduation rates get factored into rankings, and every student who doesn’t make it through drags that statistic just a little bit lower. If a student does develop serious problems while on campus, there are also potential legal/liability issues involved, and no school wants to deliberately court those.

Besides, if your grades are iffy, it is extremely difficult not to sound as if you are making excuses. You are much better off talking about an experience or interest that will make them look past the transcript and think, “Hey, I really like this kid.” And the reality is that if your grades are that iffy, you’re probably not a competitive candidate at super-selective colleges anyway. These schools are looking for applicants who are on the way to fulfilling their potential, not for ones who need to explain away chronic underachievement.

In addition, one thing applicants — and sometimes their parents — have difficulty wrapping their heads around is the sheer number of applications the average admissions officer has encountered. Situations that may seem extreme and dramatic to adolescents who have recently confronted them may in fact have already been experienced — and written about — by thousands of other applicants. A 17-year old may believe that describing their anxiety in morbid detail will make them seem complex and introspective, but more likely it will only come off as overwrought and trite.

I know that might sound harsh, but please remember that admissions officers are coming at this process with no pre-existing knowledge of you as a person, only a few minutes to spend on your essay, and hundreds of other applications to get through. They are also under intense pressure to ensure that the appropriate demographics targets are being met and all the various institutional constituencies (coaches, development office, orchestra conductor) are being satisfied. They’re not ogres, and they’ll try to give you the benefit of the doubt, but if yours is the fifth essay about overcoming anxiety they’ve seen in the last 48 hours, they will look at it and reflexively think, “oh, another one of these.” That is not a first impression you want to make.

Now, are there exceptions? Yes, of course, but they are rare. In all the time I did college admissions work, I had exactly one student successfully discuss anxiety in an essay. It was, however, introduced in the context of a family tragedy that had profoundly shaped the student’s life; given that background, the discussion seemed natural and matter of fact rather than overdramatized. Even so, I made the student take a good week to think about whether that topic was truly the one they wanted to write about.

Ultimately, of course, the decision is yours, and the choice depends on the larger story you want to tell as well as your ability as a writer, but these topics are so difficult to pull off well that you are best off avoiding them if you can (particularly if you don’t have access to someone with a lot of admissions experience who can review your essay). Find another topic/ experience that you enjoy writing about (and that others are likely to enjoy reading about); that presents you as someone interesting and thoughtful; and that suggest you are ready to thrive in college.

If you really are concerned about your ability to function in college, most schools have plenty of resources for you to take advantage of (academic support, counseling center, etc.). But those are things to investigate after you get admitted. Before that, don’t go out of your way to fly red flags where none are warranted.

Why is Dyslexia ok to mention on an essay, but overcoming selective mutism is not?

Dyslexia is a learning disability that lends itself to proof that it has been overcome through excellent scores in reading and writing. It’s not easy to overcome or cope with dyslexia so an essay showing how a student did it demonstrates their tenacity and resourcefulness. Grades and scores are proof that the dyslexia will not be a problem in college, while the essay can highlight the characteristics that led to the student’s success and which will serve them well in college.

I wrote about how my dog helped me overcome me ending my life/depression and moving to another school is that too common

Thanks for the tips and perspective. It seems like common sense to me as a parent and tutor, but now I have an “established author” to cite!

I want to write about how depression had change me. But my grades and statistics are all great. Is this okay to write? My bad mental health somehow didn’t manage to get to the others parts of my life.

Is it okay to write about how despite psychosis I could manage to get good grades?

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Win $20,000 for med school tuition from Blueprint MCAT!

In today’s episode, I talk with Dr. Vineet Arora from FutureDocsBlog.com about the do’s and don’ts of writing your personal statements. These tips apply to medical school personal statements as well as residency personal statements.

Some specific topics we cover are whether to write about depression and other mental health issues in your personal statement, and whether to include quotes in your personal statement.

Vineet is the Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and Assistant Dean of Scholarship & Discovery at the Pritzker School of Medicine for the University of Chicago. She has been in the residency recruitment committee for the past 10 years. She coaches people in writing personal statements and has worked as a career advisor in the medical school.

Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

My book on the medical school personal statement:

Since this episode was recorded, I’ve published a book all about the medical school personal statement. My book distills and collects all I’ve learned about the personal statement from working with students for years. Check it out:  The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement .

Vineet’s path to medicine:

• Premed at John Hopkins University, a biology major
• Went to medical school at WashU in St. Louis when she was 20 years old
• Finishing residency and pursuing a public policy degree

Things to keep in mind when writing personal statements:

• Your personal statement is not about you. It’s about your journey.
• It’s about what makes you unique and a good fit for the career and program.
• Medical schools want to see maturity in your personal statement.
• The personal statement does not get you the interview, but it’s a very big part of the impression you leave on your interview day and can be a memorable part of your application.

What Determines Medical School Interview Invites?

When a medical school offers you an interview, it is usually based on:

• The competitiveness of your numbers/your test scores.
• Fit for the program

Dos and Don’ts in Writing Your Personal Statement

• Don’t talk about the field. Talk about who are you, why you want to be a doctor , and what you have to offer
• Open your personal statement with the most interesting and fun thing you’ve done. It makes you more distinctive.
• Don’t make it like a SOAP note. Anything radical is a no-no.
• Don’t make it too short. Don’t make it too long. The right length is just about a page.
• End on a positive. Put your best foot forward. It’s more genuine to answer what challenges you faced in person rather than on a piece of paper.

Common Red Flags in Medical School Personal Statements

• This is an oxymoron for a personal statement, yet it happens.
• Students struggle to write about themselves and their journey.
• Anything that questions your ability to be a good candidate and complete the training program you’re joining
• Seek consultation to decide whether it’s the appropriate thing to do.
• If you’re battling with a chronic illness that will make people wonder if you can do the job, Vineet recommends to not include it.
• Disclosing too much dirty laundry may not be the best idea.
• Depression is common, but the medical field is challenging, with high rates of burnout .

[Related episode: Should I Write About Red Flags in My Personal Statement? ]

Is It Okay to Put Quotes in Personal Statements?

• It has to be really meaningful and well-placed.
• Do not open with a quote. You don’t want to open with someone else’s quote as your personal statement. The first line is often what decides the direction of your interview.
• You may end with a quote as long as it’s well done.
• The quote must say something about you and your likes that would be helpful.
• Use quotes very sparingly.

Taking Time to Write Your Personal Statement

• Show it to others. Get feedback. Take it back and revise.
• Work on it once or twice a week for the next few weeks.
• It takes several weeks for it to really mature and come together.

Should You Do a Clinical Rotation or Sub-Internship at the Residency You Want to Match Into?

Dr. Arora actually advises not to rotate at the hospital of the residency you want to match into if you think you’ve got your numbers and you’ll get an interview without it. Auditioning beforehand can give the program more data points, and it could backfire if you do poorly during your rotation.

• If you do this, be cognizant that you’re on an interview the entire time you’re there.
• Be as unobtrusive as possible, as you want to be a part of the team.
• Be helpful to the residents.
• Meet with the program directors and other people.
• Understand who drives recruitment, and see if you can get your name or face in front of the person so they know who you are before recruitment season starts.

Some Advice for Premed Students

Let people you know read your personal statement, as well as people who don’t know you to avoid bias, balance your personal statement, and help it all come together.

Links and Other Resources

• FutureDocs Blog  / @FutureDocs on Twitter
• Check out my book all about the personal statement: The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement .
• Related episode: How to Start Brainstorming Your Personal Statement Draft?
• Related episode: What Should Nontrads Focus on in the Personal Statement?
• Need MCAT Prep?  Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at  Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep) !

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Addressing Depression in Your Personal Statement

• college application essays
• essay topic

Did you know 20% of teenagers experience depression before reaching adulthood? It is also during this time that college applicants have to answer the most intimate question in order to gain acceptance at their dream school. What defines you?

While it may feel extremely vulnerable to talk about your experience with depression, don’t let that immediately deter you from choosing it as your personal statement essay topic. Here are 5 examples that may help you approach the topic in an essay:

UC Irvine ‘17

Throughout the past few years, I have gone through depression. The inability to focus not only in school, but also in life, is something I have struggled to overcome. The majority of the time, I am able to successfully distinguish my emotions from my academics because of my overly organized tendencies. At other times, the feelings that come with depression are inevitable. Depression, for me, is hopelessness. My biggest struggle with depression is not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel; therefore, this way of thinking has caused me to feel unmotivated, alone, and frightened. Because of this, I have spent endless nights contemplating my life till 4 or 5 in the morning, I have no motivation to wake up in the mornings, and I feel pain and grief on a daily basis. Keep reading.

Brittanybea

Uc berkeley ‘19.

On a warm August morning I sat shivering and shaking in the waiting room to my doctor’s office. I had my mother make the appointment but didn’t give her the reason; I’m not even sure I really knew the reason. I just knew something was wrong. The past five years had been all uphill - outwardly, at least. I was doing increasingly well in school, growing more independent, and had greater opportunities at my feet. Inwardly, however, was an entirely different story. Those five years felt like an upbeat movie I was watching while in my own personal prison. I was happy for the characters, even excited for their accomplishments. The problem was that my outward self was a character entirely distinct from the internal me. View full essay.

869749923096609FB

Williams college ‘19.

Perhaps the greatest blessing my parents have ever granted me was the move from our apartment in the Bronx to a two-family home in Queens, two blocks away from a public library. The library had all the boons my young heart could desire: bounties of books, air conditioning in the summer, and sweet solace from a dwelling teeming with the cries of an infant sister, a concept I couldn’t yet fathom. Read more.

When I was younger, people chided me for being pessimistic. It was my sincere belief that there were no rewards to be reaped from a life here on earth. I was bored, unhappy, and apathetic. War, injustice, environmental collapse, the mean thing X said to me the other day-it all made me see the world as a tumultuous and unpleasant place. Continue reading.  

879216135461584FB

Dish soap, pepper, a toothpick, and an empty pie tin. The first materials I ever used to perform a simple experiment in grade school. Looking back that would be the moment I fell in love with science. I can still feel the excitement I felt as I watched as the pepper dart off to the edges of the pie tin as I touched the water with the end of a soap coated toothpick. Though I didn’t have to question how or why the reaction happened, I never stopped wondering. It was then that a passion for science ignited in me. It was a fire in my soul that could never die out. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong. As I grew older, the fire within me began to dim and in the year 2012, it became extinguished; the world as I knew it had ended. View full profile.

While this essay topic helped these students gain acceptances to UC Irvine , UC Berkeley , Williams , Vassar and NYU , it doesn’t mean it will work in the exact same way for you. Brainstorm and think carefully about what you want to write in your personal statement and how you want to share your own, unique story. For more inspiration, AdmitSee has a database of 60,000+ successful college applications files waiting for you! 

About The Author

Frances was born in Hong Kong and received her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. She loves super sad drama television, cooking, and reading. Her favorite person on Earth isn’t actually a member of the AdmitSee team - it’s her dog Cooper.

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Writing about personal mental illness in ERAS personal statement

• Thread starter JoseyCali123
• Start date Mar 31, 2019

JoseyCali123

Full member.

• Mar 31, 2019

Board Certified in Clinical Neuropsychology

When it comes to writing about personal experiences with mental illness, it can be very powerful in a personal statement context. Problem is, very few people can do it well. I'm in a relatively different area (Psychology/Neuropsychology) but I'd say about 5% of the people that attempt to do this, do it well. You can ask here about psychiatry, but I would wager that a minority of individuals who try to do so, succeed in doing it well in a positive manner for application purposes.  

This has been asked many times and answered. You can use the search function for detailed answers. Briefly: no. Just don't. It's a bad idea.  

The personal statement is more about assessing your potential floor rather than your ceiling. Think of it more like a sensitive test to rule out out something bad, rather than a specific test that rules in something good. Except in some rare circumstance, the personal statement isn’t giving a ton of traction relative to the rest of the application. Obviously, this interpretation will vary from reviewer to reviewer, but so will some of the disparate views regarding whatever you write.  

Do not do this. do not pass go. Do not collect 200 dollars.  

Thank You for Smoking

• Apr 1, 2019

I agree with @WisNeuro in that it's something that can potentially be meaningful, but the key is in the execution. In general, I would recommend avoiding a disclosure like this unless it's impossible to do so (e.g., you had to take a leave of absence, work suffered immensely as a result of mental health issues, etc.), and even then I would get some feedback about your personal statement to make sure that it reads like you're wanting it to read.  

deleted480308

Imagine you are hiring a sherpa to carry your stuff up a mountain. One of the applicants for the sherpa job includes a very well written essay about their multiple bouts of altitude sickness, back problems and knee surgeries. There is a lot of risk with almost no real payoff potential  

OP DO NOT do this. A discussion with my old med school PD -- a lot of programs actively try to screen out people with MH issues. At the end of the day hospitals need cheap labour... if there's a high chance of a worker having mental breakdowns and thus aren't able to produce, then they are seen as an economic liability to the hospital/program. This sounds awful coming from the field of psychiatry, but do your best to hide ANY mental health issues on the interview trial.  

sb247 said: Imagine you are hiring a sherpa to carry your stuff up a mountain. One of the applicants for the sherpa job includes a very well written essay about their multiple bouts of altitude sickness, back problems and knee surgeries. There is a lot of risk with almost no real payoff potential Click to expand...

Mass Effect

I don't know. I revealed a chronic potentially debilitating health issue on both med school apps and residency apps. People commented on it at multiple interviews. I don't think it held me back. That said, it depends on the mental health issue. You had a problem with anxiety? Sure. You're suffering from schizophrenia? I probably wouldn't.  

No. Do not. You shouldn’t need to reference this if it’s been adequately treated and overcome - you have other accomplishments and distinctions to reference without highlighting potential risks.  

Mass Effect said: I don't know. I revealed a chronic potentially debilitating health issue on both med school apps and residency apps. People commented on it at multiple interviews. I don't think it held me back. That said, it depends on the mental health issue. You had a problem with anxiety? Sure. You're suffering from schizophrenia? I probably wouldn't. Click to expand...

Former jolly good fellow

• Apr 2, 2019

Although it's illegal and unethical, some programs will nail you for having a mental health problem toss you out from consideration. It's not right but it happens and there's no way you will be able to prove they did it. I've mentioned this before. Students applying to residency have asked me what to do. I tell them, of course you have to admit to it if they ask about it on the application, but I also tell them what I mentioned above-you admit to it, unfairly or not they will possibly toss you out, then tell them I don't got a good answer of what they really should do vs what I'm supposed to tell them to do. If you, however, don't tell them, and you are caught in a lie that is serious too. Lying on an application is illegal although most places won't get the law involved, but it also pretty much leaves you potentially defenseless if your health problem acts up and you need time off or other things from the program because it's hurting your ability to do your job.  

whopper said: Although it's illegal and unethical, some programs will nail you for having a mental health problem toss you out from consideration. It's not right but it happens and there's no way you will be able to prove they did it. I've mentioned this before. Students applying to residency have asked me what to do. I tell them, of course you have to admit to it if they ask about it on the application, but I also tell them what I mentioned above-you admit to it, unfairly or not they will possibly toss you out, then tell them I don't got a good answer of what they really should do vs what I'm supposed to tell them to do. If you, however, don't tell them, and you are caught in a lie that is serious too. Lying on an application is illegal although most places won't get the law involved, but it also pretty much leaves you potentially defenseless if your health problem acts up and you need time off or other things from the program because it's hurting your ability to do your job. Click to expand...

Seriously, dude, I think you're overreacting....

Bad idea. As noted above, don’t ever lie on an app. But don’t go out of your way to volunteer extra info either. This kind of unsolicited admission is almost certainly going to hurt you more than it helps.  

Nobody is going to ask you about medical conditions outside of whether you can meet the technical standards on your application to school/residency. For licensure you will in some states be asked and a serious persistent type mental illness (bipolar, schizophrenia) could be a problem. If your problem is depression or anxiety, you and 20-40% of other applicants (probably more in psych even) can join the club. It’s not even interesting or uncommon to be worth writing.  

clausewitz2

I matched this year and I disclosed my mental health history in my personal statement. It was the major catalyst that lead me to choosing psychiatry and I would've felt disingenuous if I hadn't mentioned it. Granted, I ended up matching pretty low on my rank list, but whether that was due to my disclosing is impossible to know. Just offering an alternate perspective.  

• Apr 3, 2019

Unethical? To screen a known risk factor regarding work performance and program completion? Click to expand...

I matched this year and I disclosed my mental health history in my personal statement. It was the major catalyst that lead me to choosing psychiatry and I would've felt disingenuous if I hadn't mentioned it. Granted, I ended up matching pretty low on my rank list, but whether that was due to my disclosing is impossible to know. Just offering an alternate perspective. Click to expand...

whopper said: Good for you for doing what you believed in. Did it affect you? Like you said, I don't know, and we may never know. It is a risky move. Click to expand...

whopper said: It is so if the person is being treated for it and can otherwise work, but is not being given as much as a chance vs someone who never had a mental health disorder. Bear in mind psychiatrists are supposed to help to defuse the stigma against the mentally ill by opposing employers that would not hire someone with a mental health disorder that could otherwise work. The unethical part is where many programs are likely not even giving the applicant a fair chance despite that the person's mental health problem is being effectively treated. Good for you for doing what you believed in. Did it affect you? Like you said, I don't know, and we may never know. It is a risky move. Click to expand...

MacDonaldTriad

• Apr 4, 2019

Ethics, fairness, stigma.... These are job interviews. If you interviewed for a job at Starbucks as a barista, you wouldn't talk about your depression. Like all job interviews, the applicant is also sizing up the job to see if it is a good fit, but don't lead with this attitude. Applicant: "I understand that you have call. How can you assure that clinical duties are not precluding your educational mission?" Program Director's internal dialogue: "Next!"  

whopper said: The unethical part is where many programs are likely not even giving the applicant a fair chance despite that the person's mental health problem is being effectively treated. Click to expand...

Professional Cat at Large

Well you would be in good company with the other hundred applicants who have the same idea if you did, as it is one of the six personal statements in psychiatry but as mentioned above it does tend to have the potential to backfire. The way to think about info in your PS - is this something that you want all the faculty and co-residents to know? (because they will be reading your PS and interviewing you or ranking etc). So bear that in mind. My advice for personal statements is the keep it boring. Tell us about what excites you about a career in psychiatry, what your career goals are, any relevant past experiences (e.g. volunteering, clinical experiences, research, teaching, past career), and what you are looking for in a residency program. The clarity of the writing and quality of written communication are just as, if not more, important than the content. Use lots of action words, convey lots of enthusiasm, and have a generally positive tone, even if there are some more sombre parts to your story. No one wants to read a depressing PS. And especially for IMGs, make sure that the English good - spelling, punctuation, grammar, correct use of idioms. And don't put anything like "I am honored to apply to your esteemed residency program" which a lot of foreign grads seem to have learned from somewhere. Also remember doctors are horrible people and will judge you for being sick. Probably best to avoid mentioning any illness (mental or physical) unless it is unavoidable. An alternative perspective, is you may not want to match at a program that would judge you so. However, as psychiatry is somewhat more competitive than in the past, I am not sure I would advise all but the most stellar applicants to carry that attitude.  

• Apr 5, 2019

, there's no reason to disclose if it has been effectively treated. Click to expand...

Bad idea. As noted above, don’t ever lie on an app. But don’t go out of your way to volunteer extra info either. This kind of unsolicited admission is almost certainly going to hurt you more than it helps. Click to expand...

whopper said: Not if in doing so you're lying on the application. Many applications state something to the effect of "do you suffer" and/or "have you suffered" from an illness that could affect your job. Click to expand...

There is no such question requiring you to divulge your health information in your personal statement. Click to expand...

whopper said: I haven't done an ERAS recently so if you have seen the last application and your information is accurate then you are correct in regards to the personal statement itself. Click to expand...

Don’t do it. You’re not going to standout in a good way.  

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By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 16 November 2023 | 3 min read

The ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement

Dodge these common blunders and you'll be well on your way to creating a great uni application

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Writing your personal statement is a challenge that many students struggle with.  Here are 10 common personal statement mistakes that students make, as well as some tips for making sure you're on the right track.  Visit the personal statement forum and the university applications forum on The Student Room to see what other students are saying about the process. 

1. Telling a story

Many personal statements can take on the appearance of the applicant's life story. While some background information won't hurt, the best statements will only include experiences directly related to their chosen course. Generally, you should focus on recent study from the last few years. Anything older than that should only be included if it's relevant or provides important context.

• Read more: how to write an excellent personal statement in ten steps

2. Repeating information already contained in your application

It can be hard to fit everything you want to say into just 4,000 characters. So don't waste space on things that are already included elsewhere in your application, such as your A-level subjects or previous grades. Remember that the admissions tutor can see your whole application, so there's no need to repeat yourself. 

• Read more: how to write your university application

3. Spending too long discussing personal issues

Many applicants mention personal issues in their statement, like health and bereavement. This is relevant as it affects studying, but it might be better covered in your reference instead. However, if you want to include this in your personal statement, it's worth keeping it short. One or two sentences is enough.

4. Making simple grammatical errors

Students are often so focused on the experiences they're writing about that they forget to check their grammar. Have a go at reading your statement aloud to make sure it flows well. For bonus points, get a friend or parent to go over it as well.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

5. Failing to demonstrate capability of university-level study

Your personal statement is great opportunity to demonstrate that you can study in a university style. For example, you could discuss a topic you learned about and then explain how you did further independent study (like reading a book chapter, an article or completing an online course) to expand your knowledge.

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

6. Using clichés 

Avoid overused phrases like 'my passion for history began...' or 'I have been interested in geography since a young age'. Admissions tutors read a ton of personal statements and you want to stand out. So get creative with your sentences, but make sure not to go off-topic. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

7. Not going into enough detail about experiences

It can be tempting to fill your personal statement with loads of different experiences to show how well-rounded and dedicated you are. But the character limit will stop you from going into any detail. Instead, aim to give two or three in-depth experiences with examples and links to the course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say

8. Telling the admissions tutor things they already know

Admissions tutors are often experts in their field. While it's tempting to include facts, you aren't there to tell them about the subject. It's much better to talk about yourself and why you'd be a great candidate.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements

9. Losing sight of what the personal statement is actually for

Essentially, your personal statement should explain why you want to study the course at university and also demonstrate your ability to complete the degree to a high standard. Make sure everything you write connects with these areas.

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang

10. Forgetting that the personal statement should be personal

Advice can be conflicting - whether it's from online sources, teachers or tutors. You might be told something that you don't think suits your personality or your statement, and it's fine to disagree with it. Everyone's got different opinions, but the main thing is that you're happy with your personal statement.  

You may want to look at these...

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps.

Help and advice on putting your application together

6 steps you need to take to apply to university

Find out more about choosing a university and course, writing your application and personal statement

Teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

Writing a personal statement is one of the most important things you will do when applying to university. Here is some useful advice and insider knowledge from Mrs Kinetta, who has more than 25 years of experience as a sixth form tutor.

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Should I include information about my mental health in my masters personal statements? [duplicate]

I graduated in 2016 with a 2:2, which I feel was lower than what I could have achieved.

I had had some minor issues before starting university, however I had an amazing support system and managed to get these in check. I completed my first year with only the normal issues (homesickness at first and adjusting to living away from home) until just before the end. I failed the last two exams of the year, partly due to the same issues that reoccurred later.

I had been struggling with one of my elective modules and after talking with my tutor, he recommended not worrying about it as I could fail 20 credits and as a 10 credit module, it would not affect my grade. However, the day of I woke up and completely panicked, zoning in and out all morning. I walked to the exam, and blanked and ended up in my department building instead of the exam hall, which was 20 minutes away and I had to run down a very steep hill to make it to the exam. But I made it and sat the exam.

I injured my knee while running. The problem with this is that my main coping method is exercise and I was on crutches. I then managed to completely space out for the last exam of the year. Meaning I failed both these modules, which was my 20 credit allowance. Despite this I averaged a high 2:1 for the year.

I went into my second year, with added roles and responsibilities. I had lived in catered accommodation in first year and moved to self catered in my second year. I became the social secretary of the physics society and started another sport (total of three) I had been a super human in my first year and wanted to do more. This turned out to be a bad idea, as my mental health started to decline, and my grades took a hit.

I then tried to pull them back up in my third year, but poor living conditions caused a physical health decline, which then exacerbated the mental health problems to a point where some days I couldn't get out of bed.

The main problem being that in my third year I was living with some really shitty people and they were really scathing of mental health issues, meaning I didn't seek the help I needed and am now getting and didn't apply for special circumstance. Hindsight really is 20:20.

I have taken time out of my career to get this sorted and to make sure that I am taking the right path for me. I have now ruled it down to three possible paths and want to apply to see what I can do.

I just want to know whether I should mention these issues and the steps I've taken in my time off to overcome these, on my personal statement. I don't seem to get anywhere else to put this and none of my previous lecturers know about this to mention on any references.

• statement-of-purpose

3 Answers 3

You should not. But if you write it in the way you wrote the question explanation (rich in useless details) nobody would consider it. Another aspect you need to work on: given the text, the only thing important to you are/were the grades, not career development and knowledge. The major reason you attend classes is to acquire knowledge and wisdom, with grades being a metric of how this acquisition went. If you go for grades without actually acquiring knowledge, your career will get very dull.

The statement is about your passion to the field (which is ... ?), about how you want to teach, sing, dance, engineer, heal, fight, prosecute or whatever the degree is about, how enthusiastic you are about it. While pushing this concept can be enforced by your past, the statement shouldn't be a judgement of what you did in the past.

We all have ups and downs. Finding the one responsible for downs (like the shitty people from the junior year for example) is an evidence of lack of personal responsibility. You had your down, you overcame it, that's good for you, but it was because of you, not because of other people.

I believe you should indeed advise your tutors about your mental health condition and what you have been going through, and that you are motivated and willing to do whatever you can to succeed.

Not to make them biased about your condition and kinder to you on the grades, but to inform them about what you are going through in case your grades suddenly take a hit. Also make sure the tutors keep these informations about you for themselves if you do not wish to deal with people's judgmental behaviors.

You don't have to keep this as a personal burden, don't hesitate to seek for help or talk to people about your personal/scholar record. You shouldn't feel crippled about it, but rather embrace it and who you are, and work on fixing it (if possible of course).

I strongly suggest that you do not give any importance to the "shitty people" you are referring to, and that you focus on yourself, your studies and your well-being, which is the most important.

If you judge that it is important for you to tell your tutors about it, I think you should.

That being said, for your statement of purpose, as far as I remember, the point of it is to describe your personal record, what has influenced your career path, professional and personal interests, and so on...

And again, if you judge that it is important for you to mention, or justify some things about your personal record, why not mention it? Remember that statement of purpose is the only part of your application over which you have full control. So it might be worth it. Just make sure it remains an informative aspect and not the core of your SoP.

I would personally mention it. But it's up to you to decide wether you should share this very personal part of your life or not, it isn't easy for everyone.

Best of luck to you.

Mention it, yes, but don't dwell on it.

The majority of your personal statement should be devoted to explaining your motivations for further study and (if it's a research Master's) your potential to do good research. However, since your mental health had such a big impact on your grades, I would add one or two sentences explaining that this was the case.

Ultimately, the most important thing to emphasise if you do mention it is that your mental health is stable now and you are not expecting to experience similar problems during the Master's course.

Good luck with your applications.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged masters statement-of-purpose physics grades health .

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Should I mention mental health issues in personal statement?

Yep, definitely don’t mention it in your personal statement- that’s the thing that’s meant to make you sound really good. I included it in the “health” part of my UCAS application, had a letter from my GP and my head of sixth form also added a few lines in my reference.

Table of Contents

How do you explain mental health in a personal statement?

I am a good listener and have strong powers of empathy and understanding. I work well with others, but also have the courage to trust my own judgement and make my own decisions. I am purposeful and clear sighted in my ambitions, and I hope you will consider my application.

Is it okay to talk about depression in a personal statement?

It is best to completely leave out any mention of depression. Also, Aerus, it is not possible to “make it clear that you won’t relapse into depression.” This is not possible to do as anyone, including those who have never been depressed, can suddenly find themselves depressed.

Why is mental health not an excuse?

The definition of mental health clearly states that a person realises his abilities, cope with normal stresses of life and work productively. Mental health is not an excuse to just cut off or disregard any criticism that comes your way, in an attempt to protect your mental health.

Should you declare mental health on UCAS?

Ucas is about providing access to education for all. No student should be, or fear being, negatively impacted by disclosing a mental health condition. “Universities and colleges want students to succeed in their studies and have an array of support services available to ensure this.

Should you talk about mental health in college essay?

Vinik says that mental health problems should only be shared in the essay if the college would not be able to understand the applicant without knowing about this part of her. Generally, he discourages selecting this as a primary topic.

How do you write a statement of purpose for mental health nursing?

I am applying for a Mental Health Nursing degree because I want to help people who suffer from mental illness. With the skills I have acquired whilst working as a support worker and whilst studying a Health Professions course, I believe I will achieve my goal of going to university.

What should be in a personal statement for a mental health nurse?

I have strong analytical skills, work well under pressure and enjoy being a part of the clinical team. I am totally committed to my goal, and believe I have the necessary qualities to become a very successful Mental Health Nurse.

How do you write a good personal statement?

• Explain the reason for your choice and how it fits in with your aspirations for the future.
• Give examples of any related academic or work experience.
• Show you know what the course will involve and mention any special subjects you’re interested in.

Do colleges care about mental health?

Check out a college’s services ahead of time In a recent survey of college students with a diagnosed mental health condition, 45% rated their respective college as being somewhere between supportive and very supportive. The other 55% felt that mental health care on campus was less than ideal.

Do college applications ask about mental health?

For starters, it is important to know that it is actually illegal for a college to specifically ask for these types of details about your life, since doing so can be considered discrimination. Based on this reason alone, you are never required to disclose mental or physical health concerns on your application.

Can colleges discriminate based on mental health?

While universities are not responsible for mandating a student’s medical care, federal law does require that they do not discriminate against those who suffer from mental health disorders. Universities are also required to make reasonable accommodations to allow these students to succeed.

Is depression an excuse to ignore?

Mental illness alone is no excuse to break up with someone. Lots of people with mental health conditions are able to enjoy long-lasting, fulfilling, happy relationships. Just because someone is depressed, doesn’t mean you should write them off. A condition in and of itself is not a reason to break up with somebody.

Can you use anxiety as an excuse?

Using Anxiety to Hold Yourself Back. Depending on how you look at the world, using anxiety as an excuse to stay in a bad situation, date the wrong person, or simply not try may be no worse than skipping the occasional holiday meal. In this context, you can literally use anxiety to hold yourself back.

Is bipolar disorder just an excuse?

Myth: Bipolar disorder is a figment of one’s imagination. Fact: Bipolar disorder is a treatable brain disorder that is real and can cause a lot of suffering, especially if it is not well managed. Individuals cannot just snap out of it!

Do universities have a duty of care?

Universities owe all their students duties arising from the student contract and they have a general duty of care. They also have specific statutory responsibilities towards U18 students and disabled students.

How do you ask students about mental health?

• Breathe in and out, and notice the emotions that are inside of you.
• In the past week, how often have you felt: sad, angry, happy, joyful, proud, etc.?
• How much emotional support do you feel you have at school?
• What color is the best fit for how you feel today?

Should I write about depression in my college essay?

A statement about your treatment for depression is usually most appropriate for the Additional Information section on the Common Application, or for a supplemental essay in a college’s own portion of the application.

What should you not write about in a college essay?

• Controversial Topics. Controversial topics, such as current political hot buttons, should be avoided at all costs.
• Highly Personal Topics.
• Personal Achievements and Accomplishments.
• Most Important Place or a Role Model.
• Creative Writing.
• Athletic Topics.
• Humorous Topics or Jokes.
• Tragic Events.

Can you write about trauma in a college essay?

April 8, 2019. Traumatic or otherwise difficult experiences do NOT have to be off the table for your college application essays. They are legitimate subjects (depending on the essay prompt, of course; it has to make sense as a response to the particular question).

How do you write a personal statement for adult nursing?

I am versatile and adaptable and enjoy being challenged, and I work hard and am very dependable. I work well in a team but am equally confident acting on my own. My greatest virtues are my patience and my genuine compassion for those in my care, no matter how testing the circumstances might be.

How do I write a cover letter for a mental health job?

• Research the company website.
• List contact information at the top of your letter.
• Introduce yourself to the reader.
• Highlight relevant skills and information.
• Explain your unique qualifications for the position.
• Thank the hiring manager for their time.

How do I write a personal statement for a staff nurse?

• Education. Discuss your previous education experience relevant to nursing.
• Volunteer work.
• Work experience.
• Relevant skills.
• Personal motivation.
• Unique traits.
• Research the course.
• Read the directions.

How do you end a nursing personal statement?

• 1 Talk About Your Main Points.
• 2 Summarise Your Key Points In A Simple Way.
• 3 Use Your Key Points To Restate Your Passion For Your Course.
• 4 Double Down On Your “Why”
• 5 Mention The Next Step Of Your Application Process.
• 6 Make The Universities Excited To Have You As Their Student.

How many words should a nursing personal statement be?

An average personal statement length is around 500 to 1,000 words which will equate to one to two sides of typed A4 paper. You should aim to make your personal statement concise so that it is easy to read. Additionally, it should also be clear and simple to understand.

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Writing a Compelling Mental Health Nursing Personal Statement: A Guide

Considering a career in mental health nursing? This guide will help you craft a compelling personal statement that showcases your passion for the field and your understanding of the profession

Writing a personal statement for a mental health nursing course can seem daunting at first, but it's a great opportunity to showcase your passion for the field and your suitability for the course. To help you answer the questions posed in the prompt, we have put together some tips and advice:

• Why are you interested in Mental Health Nursing as a career?

This question is all about showcasing your passion for mental health nursing and what motivates you to pursue this career. Here are some points to consider:

• Start with a hook to grab the reader's attention. This could be a personal experience, a statistic, or a quote that resonates with you.
• Explain what drew you to mental health nursing. Was it a personal experience, an inspiring mentor, or a passion for helping others?
• Highlight the skills and qualities you possess that make you a good fit for the role of a mental health nurse. For example, empathy, resilience, and good communication skills are all essential qualities for mental health nurses.
• What is your understanding of the scope of the Mental Health Nursing profession?

This question is all about demonstrating your knowledge of the mental health nursing profession and the different roles you can undertake. Here are some points to consider:

• Research the different areas of mental health nursing, such as acute mental health services, community mental health services, and specialist services.
• Use the Nursing and Midwifery Council website to explore the professional values expected of a mental health nurse.
• Discuss the importance of working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, social workers, and occupational therapists.
• Do you have any experience of observing or working in mental health?

Having firsthand experience of working in mental health can be invaluable when it comes to writing your personal statement. Here are some points to consider:

• Contact your local mental health services to see if you can spend some time observing or volunteering.
• If you are unable to secure work experience in a mental health setting, consider volunteering at a care home or community centre.
• Discuss what you learned from your experience and how it has influenced your decision to pursue mental health nursing.
• What do you know about the National Health Service (NHS) and what do you understand about the Values that are embedded in the NHS Constitution?

This question is all about demonstrating your understanding of the NHS and the values that underpin it. Here are some points to consider:

• Research the history of the NHS and its role in providing healthcare to the UK population.
• Explore the NHS Constitution and the values it embodies, such as respect, compassion, and professionalism.
• Use examples from your own experiences to demonstrate how you embody these values.
• What interests, hobbies, or other experiences have you gained prior to your application to the University of Hertfordshire?

This question is all about showcasing your personality and demonstrating how you have developed transferable skills that will be useful in your studies and future career. Here are some points to consider:

• Discuss your interests and hobbies and how they have developed your skills and qualities. For example, playing team sports may have developed your teamwork skills.
• Talk about any volunteering or work experience you have undertaken and how it has developed your skills and influenced your career goals.
• Discuss any achievements you are proud of, such as academic awards or personal accomplishments.

If you're considering applying for a mental health nursing program, a strong

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Can I talk about my mental illness in my personal statement?

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Personal statement about mental illness.

The 7Sage law school admissions site says you probably shouldn't write about mental illness and I am wondering why. If the purpose of a personal statement is to share something that happened and how you learned from it, why would mental illness be off the table? Surely schools can't reject you on the basis of you identifying as mentally ill right?

Personal Statement about Mental Health vs. Addendum/Character & Fitness essay? Do I need both? Hi everyone! I took a year off in undergrad as a medical leave of absence, during that time I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorde…

Applications, Personal Statement, Addendum, diversity statement I am taking the December LSAT & because a couple of the schools I am applying to have a December deadline for the majority of their better scholarshi…

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The reason you shouldn't is most states prohibit bar applicants from becoming attorneys if they have a documented illness. As an example it was only earlier this year (2020) that New York removed its mental illness question from its bar application. Thus, as far as essay topics go just to be cautious it might be worth avoiding as the profession is only coming around to this sort of topic. I can see why too, traditionally attorneys are individuals with sound mind and judgment and represent others so volunteering you have documented depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, doesn't really bode well with the professional requirements of the job. Hope this helps: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/new-york-removes-mental-health-questions-from-state-bar-application

@MichaelJM1989 said: The reason you shouldn't is most states prohibit bar applicants from becoming attorneys if they have a documented illness. As an example it was only earlier this year (2020) that New York removed its mental illness question from its bar application. Thus, as far as essay topics go just to be cautious it might be worth avoiding as the profession is only coming around to this sort of topic. I can see why too, traditionally attorneys are individuals with sound mind and judgment and represent others so volunteering you have documented depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, doesn't really bode well with the professional requirements of the job. Hope this helps: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/new-york-removes-mental-health-questions-from-state-bar-application

That sounds pretty ableist. What about the diversity statement? Would it be okay for Massachusetts law schools since the mass bar doesn’t ask mental health questions?

It would probably technically be "okay" but idk if most states prohibit it id be pretty careful. Yea it sucks.

Ive also heard the same thing about diversity statement. Ive heard it can be a pretty taboo topic, and it raises a lot of questions about your ability to perform in a high stress environment. This was from my prelaw advisor at my undergrad

Clinical psychology

Psychotherapy, personality, how to write a mental health nursing personal statement (3 key points).

As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

How to write a mental health nursing personal statement?

You need to remind yourself that you need to expect some revisions in writing your mental health nursing personal statement.

Start with who you are in your statement

This statement is your chance of telling the admissions officer what motivates you and your ambitions as a mental health nurse in the future.

This is where you should write your knowledge about nursing and healthcare which can help the admissions officer realize that you are worthy of being a nursing student.

When you have some experience in your healthcare setting, you need to indicate this experience and include every detail of your experience to make sure that the admissions officer will be impressed about your experience and make sure that you will have more experiences once you are inside the nursing course in the chosen college. 

Relevant experience and skills in mental health nursing

The following are some of the skills and qualities needed in mental health nurses:

You can also find some mental health nursing experiences when you had to take care of family members who had to go through a mental illness.

This can show the admissions officer that you have the willingness to help others and this starts by trying to work on people who you’re passionate to help.

Your ambitions and career goals in mental health nursing

What should you expect in a mental health nursing degree that you should imply in your mental health nursing personal statement.

You should also expect other activities and that this kind of statement is only the beginning of your mental health nursing course such as the following:

Why should I have a good mental health nursing personal statement?

You will also be introduced to different seminars which will be administered by professionals in the field who have gone through years of experience in the field.

In regards to financial concerns, you can earn a lot with this kind of career since it is relevant to nursing as a medical career.

There is a high possibility that you will be earning £22k in the beginning. 

This kind of earning can gradually rise to £70k for those who go on to become consultants of this career.

You can find yourself working in the NHS for this kind of career since this kind of centre can help you be exposed to different kinds of care whether you might be assigned to community healthcare or primary healthcare.

Conclusion 

In this brief blog, we have talked about mental health nursing personal statement, the contents in the mental health nursing personal statement, the purpose of the mental health nursing personal statement, and more information about the mental health nursing personal statement.

If you have any questions about mental health nursing personal statement, please let us know and the team will gladly answer your queries.

FAQs: mental health nursing personal statement

What should a nursing personal statement include.

A nursing personal statement includes your strengths and how you visualize yourself in the future as a nurse.

How do you start a personal statement for nursing?

What does a mental health nurse do, what are the 6 c’s of nursing.

The 6 C’s of nursing are care, competence, compassion, courage, communication, and commitment.

How do you begin a personal statement?

UCAS. Nursing.

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