Ikaneng Yingwane, fourth year medical student at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, offers some tips to medical schools on safeguarding mental health
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It is common knowledge that medical school is a challenging place. The challenges are replete: intense academic rigour, overwhelming workloads, sleep deprivation, continual exposure to sickness and death, lack of control and training mistreatment.
These challenges coupled with the high-achieving and uncompromising personality types (both of which are unforgiving of mistakes or struggles and are perfectionistic) bred by medical culture can spell doom for the mental health of medical students.
As a matter of fact, research has shown that medical students face a higher burden of mental health issues (including depression, anxiety and stress) compared to their non-medical peers of the same age. Furthermore, the rates of suicidal ideation and acts thereof are alarming and has increased calls for change in medical training to combat barriers to mental health and wellness.
So, from my stance as a medical student, here is what I think medical schools can do to improve the mental health of their students.
- Normalising Mental Health: Medical schools should promote the normalisation of mental health issues and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health problems.
- Listen to and Implement Student Suggestions: The solutions medical schools are attempting to implement to improve the mental health of their students should be motivated by the needs of the current students. They should be reviewed regularly against the suggestions provided by the current students to ensure that they do not remain static and thus less efficient.
- Providing Mental Health Resources: Ample mental health resources should be offered at medical schools. Counselling services, support groups and workshops are examples of mental health services that should be made easily accessible to medical students to assist them according to their mental health needs.
- Focusing on Wellness: Wellness programs should be put in place. However, medical schools should ensure that they are complemented by a strong focus on mental health. This can include training about mindfulness, exercise programs and peer connections.
- Addressing Transition Points: Targeted support for medical students during key transition points during their education should be provided by medical schools. For example, during the entry year, just before/during the shift from preclinical to clinical training and in the final moments just before beginning the internship years.
- Implementing Preventative Measures: This includes increasing the awareness of mental health issues, advocating for increased support from individual departments or module co-ordinators involved in the training of those students, and increasing efforts to destigmatise mental health issues.
- Expanding Mental Health Services: Medical schools should invest in expanding their mental health services to make them more equitable, accessible and responsive to for all students. For example, by hiring psychologist based on a criteria of student needs (e.g. not hiring one gender/race, should not be too old/young, and have a student representative form part of the hiring process), establishing an anonymous group/call line, and offering group therapy.
By implementing these strategies, medical schools can create a more supportive environment for their students. They can help them cope with the stress and challenges they face during their education and beyond.
