According to research, more than a quarter of medical students report feeling depressed.
What is perhaps even more concerning is
that less than one in five of those students seek psychiatric treatment.
Why are so many medical students depressed and why do so few seek help?
To start, medical school is highly competitive. Everyone is trying to achieve the best grades,
the highest test scores, and the most research to match into their desired specialty.
This fierce competition between students can often
lead to feelings of inadequacy and impostor syndrome when things don’t go as planned.
Next, there’s the workload. Succeeding in medical school requires countless hours of studying
and hard work. As such, self-care and hobbies can often take a backseat to everything else.
For some medical students, it can be difficult
finding the time to seek help – even when they know they need it.
Finally, the culture of medical school often
encourages self-sacrifice, resilience, and deference.
As such, many medical students are fearful of the
stigma associated with depression and don’t want to be perceived as weak.
If you’re a medical student suffering from depression, don’t be a statistic. Schedule time
for yourself, reach out and talk to someone, and seek help. You don’t have to suffer in silence.