The COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse toll on undergraduate medical education, resulting in less access to work experience opportunities for aspiring medical students, a vital component of the application process. With some studies reporting over 75% of work experience opportunities being cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, King's College London Psychiatry Society offered a unique chance for sixth-form students to experience a day in the life of a medical student, providing an authentic insight into the healthcare world. 'Psych for 6th' was a novel outreach programme offered to aspiring medical students in Year 12, helping them to better understand the style of learning in medicine through the lens of psychiatry. This aimed to raise their awareness of mental illnesses, prepare them for medical school applications and promote a career in psychiatry.

In March 2021, the King's College London Psychiatry Society committee members delivered two interactive sessions online via Microsoft Teams. Session 1 saw students discussing the philosophy of psychiatry and medicine, being taught basic history-taking skills, followed by a chance to practice these as a group with simulated patients.

Under the safeguarding of their teachers, the second session involved teaching Major Depressive Disorder to the pupils as if they were medical students, and then having the chance to take a complete psychiatric history in groups from simulated patients.

Out of 16 students who took part, 11 students (69%) reported not being confident at all talking to a patient before the sessions. After participating in the sessions, 14 students (88%) felt confident talking to a patient. 15 (94%) reported considering psychiatry as a career in the future, with all 16 (100%) recommending these workshops to other schools. Qualitative feedback commended the encouragement of active participation, and how their perception of psychiatry has positively changed.

Follow-up with the students found that 14 (88%) of students mentioned this programme either in their personal statements or their medical school interviews.

The Psych for 6th programme has given a competitive edge to student applications, especially in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on work experience, and expanded students’ appreciation of mental health diagnoses and treatment.

Considering this was a school where over 90% of the pupils were from BAME backgrounds, these workshops have demonstrated that we have been able to put across a positive image of psychiatry, especially in communities where mental health disorders can carry a stigma.