Exploring Japanese Medical Students' mental distress and wellbeing challenges.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Mental Health
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Medical education emphasizes high achievement and continuous competence, potentially fostering ableism.
• Physicians may view patients as clinical subjects, overlooking their individual experiences, including potential future health challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how medical students experience mental health challenges and seek wellbeing within the context of ableism.
• To understand the impact of ableism on medical students' mental health and their coping strategies.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed.
• Quantitative data collected via questionnaires.
• Qualitative data gathered through focus groups and World Café discussions.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of anxiety and depression reported among medical students.
• Wellbeing perceptions ranged from basic self-care to meaningful engagement.
• Students experienced anxiety from social comparison and fear of judgment, hindering open discussion of mental health.

Conclusions:

• Ableism significantly shapes distress and silence in medical education.
• Trusted relationships are crucial for creating safe spaces for dialogue on mental health struggles.
• Inclusive and supportive learning environments are needed to address these challenges.