Mental Health Status Among Medical Students
Summary
Medical students around the globe experience elevated rates of depression, anxiety and stress compared with their peers in other disciplines. Intense academic demands, lengthy clinical rotations and financial pressures contribute to a milieu in which psychological distress can flourish. Moreover, periods of transition—such as entry into clinical training or preparation for high-stakes examinations—often coincide with spikes in burnout and somatic complaints. The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crises have further exacerbated these trends by disrupting curricula, heightening uncertainty and limiting access to support services. Left unaddressed, poor mental health not only impairs student well-being but also undermines academic engagement, increases the risk of attrition and may compromise future patient care. Institutions are consequently exploring a spectrum of preventive strategies—from resilience workshops to digital self-help programmes—aimed at destigmatising help-seeking and integrating mental health promotion into medical education.
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Mental Health Status Among Medical Students publication trend
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Technical terms
Psychological inflexibility: difficulty adjusting thought patterns and behaviours in response to changing circumstances.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms: recurrent intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions performed to relieve anxiety.
Academic engagement: degree of energy, commitment and involvement a student applies to learning activities.
Somatic symptoms: physical complaints—such as headaches or gastrointestinal discomfort—stemming from psychological distress.
References
- Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Self-Help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Program on Medical Students’ Mental Well-Being: Follow-Up Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2024).
- Exploring the impact of depression, anxiety, stress, academic engagement, and dropout intention on medical students' academic performance: A prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders (2024).
- The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among first-year and fifth-year medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education (2023).
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