No worries, mate: a forensic psychiatry sabbatical in New Zealand

Sabbaticals were initially intended to take place one year of every seven and to provide an opportunity for study or travel. Psychiatrists rarely take sabbaticals, but they can be of tremendous value in widening professional and personal horizons. It is not merely the psychiatrist taking the sabbatical who reaps the benefits, but also the home institution and patients. Sabbatical-takers have an opportunity to learn across cultures, to experience a new system of medical care, and to develop a less provincial view of their work and indeed their place in the world. A sabbatical can be a time of substantial accomplishments, such as writing or reorganizing programs. In this article, the benefits of a forensic psychiatry sabbatical experience in New Zealand are described.