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A program for reducing depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in medical students
Diane Thompson1, Deborah Goebert, Junji Takeshita
1Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. DiThompson@mac.com
Summary
Medical student mental health programs significantly reduced depression and suicidal ideation. The intervention included counseling, faculty education, and a specialized curriculum, showing a notable decrease in reported symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Background:
- Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are prevalent among medical students.
- Existing programs to address student mental health are insufficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an intervention aimed at reducing depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in medical students.
- To address the serious mental health concerns affecting medical trainees.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of enhanced student counseling, faculty education, and a specialized curriculum.
- Utilized the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders Patient Health Questionnaire.
- Data collected from third-year medical students in 2002 and 2003.
Main Results:
- Pre-intervention: 59.1% reported depressive symptoms, 30.2% reported suicidal ideation.
- Post-intervention: 24.1% reported depressive symptoms (P < .01), 3% reported suicidal ideation (P < .001).
- Significant reduction in both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation.
Conclusions:
- Targeted mental health support programs can effectively decrease depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in medical students.
- Interventions focusing on counseling, education, and curriculum are beneficial.
- Such programs are vital for improving the well-being of medical trainees.
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