Comparison of the Wellness of a Medical School to General Student Population

Comparison of the Wellness of a Medical School to General Student Population

Adik A; Jinka SK; Seif C; Weber T; Jinka AA; Welton RS

Journal of Medical Sciences at NEOMED

2023

When compared to the general population, healthcare students have been shown to have significantly higher rates of burnout, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. However, there is limited data regarding mental health, access to mental health resources, and utilization of mental health resources by healthcare students in comparison to other student populations. This study aims to evaluate a medical university’s mental health and access/utilization of resources when compared to the general student population. Survey results from The Healthy Minds Study (HMS) of Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) students were compared to a national sampling of graduate and post-graduate student populations. Categories that were assessed included mental health status (previous diagnosis, depression/ anxiety related symptoms experienced recently or within the past 12 months) and access/utilization of resources (support system, use of psychotropic medications). Analysis was completed through individual Chi-squared tests. Compared to the national sample NEOMED students were less likely to talk to a professional clinician (p=0.017), friend (p=0.001), significant other (p=0.009), or family member (p=0.001) about distress and were less likely to be on anti-anxiety medications (p=0.018). NEOMED students were less likely to be unsure of where to go for help (p=0.009) while preferring to deal with issues on their own (p=0.001); NEOMED students were less likely to report a history of depression (p=0.044) or anxiety (p=0.028). NEOMED students were more likely to have no days of the week be impacted by mental difficulties (p=0.005), and NEOMED students were more likely to strongly disagree that they were in need of help for their mental state (p=0.047). Despite the intensity of healthcare training, this survey showed that students at NEOMED were no worse than the general student population in terms of access and utilization of mental health resources and mental functioning. The data suggest that NEOMED students are more reluctant to seek help but may have fewer mental health issues compared to other student populations.

mental health; students

n/a

n/a

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the Journal of Medical Sciences at NEOMED.

1-9

1

2

College of Medicine

NEOMED Student Publications

n/a

n/a