A fish out of water: experience of working with the Māori people in New Zealand

Experiencing life and work in an alien culture initially just felt unsettling, but it also really challenged how I perceived myself and my abilities as a doctor. Being the outsider in a group has the ability to hold an uncomfortable and scrutinising mirror up to yourself. It also offers a unique opportunity to reconsider the skills, attributes and knowledge needed to be a psychiatrist. As psychiatrists, we intellectually know that culture is integral to a person's well-being and the care we deliver will never be truly holistic until we encompass that. However, it was only when I was the fish out of water that I truly began to appreciate its significance.