Due to the prevalence of depression among medical trainees of all levels, mental health and wellness education should begin as early as medical school orientation, according to a letter to the editor published in JAMA Psychiatry.
The letter was written by Rida Khan, of the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Student Affairs in Houston, Texas; Jamie S. Lin, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia; and Douglas A. Mata, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
According to the authors, a substantial portion of incoming interns are already burned out or depressed prior to leaving medical school.
"Medical students should be educated on the risk factors and warning signs of burnout and depression and be equipped with resilience-promoting strategies that will empower them to successfully adapt to adversity," wrote the authors. "Incorporating these lessons into a mandatory undergraduate curriculum will help students become more comfortable with conversations about and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues."
The program the authors envision would include having trainees:
1. Fill out validated burnout and depression screening tools during orientation.
2. Engage in quarterly small-group sessions guided by a psychotherapist to make sure no individual feels singled out.
3. Be provided with easily accessible resources for support if they do develop issues with depression.
More articles on depression and burnout:
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