A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has revealed that about one in four medical students have depression and one in ten experience suicidal ideation. These rates are much higher than the general population suggesting that there are peculiar factors related to being in med school that may make an individual vulnerable to depression.

Are medical students at high risk for depression and suicidal ideation? This is the question that Dr Rotenstein and her team sought to answer by systematically reviewing 183 studies of about 130000 medical students from 43 countries.

What was the outcome? According to the authors, 27.2% of medical students had depressive symptoms, while 11.1% had thoughts of suicide. This is an alarmingly high rate of depression.

Why is depression so common among medical students and doctors?

No one knows for sure. However, since stress contributes to depression, it stands to reason that a stressful medical school environment may be a possible factor.

One medical student who admitted to ‘’struggling with depression’’ throughout medical school said the depressive symptoms intensified with increasing stress and isolation. According to another medical student, ”it is difficult to navigate medical school without sleep deficits, social isolation and disappointments.”

Therefore, in addition to genetic and personality factors that may make a person vulnerable, exposure to medical training, which is tough and stressful, may have mental health implications.

Although, one would expect medical students to recognize symptoms of depression and seek help, the study revealed that this was not the case, as over 80% of medical students with depressive symptoms had failed to seek psychiatric treatment.

Why do only few medical students seek psychiatric treatment?

Doctors are trained to be maintain a calm posture in stressful situations. This training helps them to manage patients during medical emergencies and under extreme pressure. Therefore, when medical students disclose symptoms of depression to colleagues, it may be interpreted as a sign of weakness.

Unfortunately, it also makes it more difficult for medical students and doctors to reveal any sign of weakness, such as admitting they are ill or requesting for medical treatment.

This may have been the case of one first year resident doctor who recently committed suicide.

No one knew he needed help. According to one nurse who worked with the doctor, ”he stood out among doctors we have encountered because of his decisiveness, brilliance, kindness and humility. Our patients always had great praises for him, because he really showed how caring he was.”

According to JAMA, ‘‘Physicians generally receive little training in recognizing depression in patients, let alone recognizing it in themselves. Even if they do realize they need help, they are often reluctant to seek care because of the stigma surrounding mental illness and the fear that getting treatment could lead to the loss of their medical license.’’

The study highlights the need to address the issue of depression and suicidality among medical students and doctors in training worldwide.


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medical students especially those in Nigeria are depressed because they are mostly put unda d most stressful conditions. there is little or no time 2 prepare 4 exams and at times ur results and d effort u put in preparing 4 an exam don't correlate. schools dont even help out at all, a school dat has a quota of 50 students can admit 80 students meaning dat by d end of studies 30 students would be dropped out .if u don't do well,u might be kicked out and u hv to try ur best not to because ur mum has already started telling pple to call her Mama Doctor. studies show dat most medical students are addicted to drugs. so with all dis problems hw won't a medical student be depressed?

enchantedone:
medical students especially those in Nigeria are depressed because they are mostly put unda d most stressful conditions. there is little or no time 2 prepare 4 exams and at times ur results and d effort u put in preparing 4 an exam don't correlate. schools dont even help out at all, a school dat has a quota of 50 students can admit 80 students meaning dat by d end of studies 30 students would be dropped out .if u don't do well,u might be kicked out and u hv to try ur best not to because ur mum has already started telling pple to call her Mama Doctor. studies show dat most medical students are addicted to drugs. so with all dis problems hw won't a medical student be depressed?

You right! The pressure to succeed is quite high and resources and support low. While other students find time to relax, network and build relationships, med students are compelled to exclude all that. There have been cases of medical students engaging in self harm or committing suicide in Naija. How sad!