A medical student with his sights set on a career in psychiatry has been awarded a scholarship to help fund his studies in the United States.Jashun Bean, 29, will start his clinical rotations with the help of the Margaret and Robert Harvey Medical Scholarship.Mr Bean admitted that his training had been stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic.But he added that it helped him gain insight into what he could face while working in the field.He explained: “It’s helped me in the sense that it makes you think about what you’re learning because it’s right in your face.“It’s not just what you’re studying in the books, but it’s literally what’s happening day to day in people’s lives, so I think it puts what you’re studying into clear perspective.”Mr Bean added: “It’s concerning obviously, because it is about putting your life at risk, but it’s sort of what I signed up for.“It’s what we all sign up for when we go into healthcare.”Mr Bean, from Hamilton Parish, has been interested in medicine since he was a teenager.He always wanted a career that allowed him to help people.Mr Bean said: “I think it’s just the ability to be able to help people get better. All of us get sick at some point in our lives and we’re always going to need help from somebody else.“I think just being able to be that person who’s helpful to someone when they’re in a time of need is something that really interests me.”Mr Bean earned a degree in sport and exercise science and nutrition before he went to the Caribbean Medical University in Curaçao.He said that he worked in hospitals in Bermuda and the Caribbean and found his passion for psychiatry when he worked at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.Mr Bean added that he became fascinated by psychology because it was not often talked about.He said that he was surprised how stigmatised mental illness was and how common it was on the island.Mr Bean added: “I didn’t know how large our numbers were in terms of mental illness in this country.“I feel like people are sort of dropped off or sent to MWI and just sort of forgotten about.“We all go to the King Edward Hospital, but I feel like when somebody goes to MWI it’s not something that’s spoken about or it’s something to be embarrassed about.”He added: “I don’t think it should be looked at in that way — whether it be mental or physical we all need help sometimes, so it’s all about helping us to get back to our better selves.”Mr Bean plans to start his rotations “in the next few months”, dependent on Covid-19 regulations.He will start his psychiatric residency when he has finished his medical degree.Margot Harvey, the co-ordinator of the scholarship, said that Mr Bean’s studies in nutrition sciences and psychiatry made him stand out against other applicants.She added that his studies allowed him to understand how a patient’s lifestyle could affect their physical and mental health.Dr Harvey added: “He wishes to create more public awareness of mental health issues in Bermuda.“He believes regular education sessions, especially in our student population, are crucial in helping our population deal with deeply personal issues.“We discussed how Covid-19 has made a lot of people realise they are struggling and they need access to services to discuss and improve their mental wellbeing.“I felt Jashun has plans to make a great contribution to this field.”