THE STRUGGLE IS REAL: THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Medical school education is associated with declining mental health in the student population. Depression, anxiety, high stress levels, and burnout are the most common manifestations of mental health struggles medical students face. Via conducted interviews of current and former medical students, this paper intends to characterize the issues of psychological distress during medical education by describing the medical school environment. Particular consideration was given to minority medical students who are, according to data, more vulnerable to mental health struggles in postgraduate education. A thorough review of the literature revealed interventions that various institutions of higher education employed to address the mental health concerns of their student bodies. The highly competitive nature of medical education, rigorous curriculum, and role transition were identified as major factors that contribute to distress in the student population. Solutions at the level of the individual medical school aimed at normalizing mental illness, better oversight of the learning environment and soliciting student feedback would help to mitigate the stressors in matriculation and hopefully improve the wellbeing of medical students.