Written on September 1, 2015
Topic: Med students (30%)having mental health conditions and (15%) considering suicide due to stressors of a competitive educational environment, intense course loads, and unceasing exam schedule, and lastly the emotional stress of caring for sick patients.
Title: Nearly a Third of Med Students Have Mental Health Issues
Date Published: September 1, 2015 06:30 ET
Written by: Laine Bergeson
Summary: The stress of school and work, 80% feel they don’t receive the support of friends and family they need, 16% smoke because of the large amount of workload, 25% are engaged in binge drinking every week, and 11% have taken illegal drugs more than once in their life because of stress. Only 80% of Med students have experienced mental distress and found moderate support or none at all. These students may also face stigma from within their field, which may keep them from seeking treatment they need. Some tutors and consultants have viewed a mental illness as a “weakness” and the depression isn’t a real illness. Med students are beginning to address the issue and seek help.
Reaction: The percentages presented above are not shocking. I know and they know med school is a struggle and is stressful without any place to breath. I’m not looking into going through the medical route for a career, but if I were, I would try to be on the top of my game and hide my mental illness because having an illness does seem weak and I wouldn’t want to seem weak around my competition.
World Impact: This seems to impact those of choice. Not everyone was, is, or will be a med student. This only impact those in the medical field that are new to the course.