Volume 2 Issue 3 March, 2012
Suicide remains the second most common cause of death among medical students in the United States, prevalence of which in India is not known. The question of motive deserves careful attention as “academic and personal stress” and “unsuitability for the profession” may explain why medical students take this extreme step.
Following suicide of a student at our medical college in 2005, a committeewas created under the aegis of Dr. A K Handigol, to “look into the psychiatric care of medical students.” This team approach in tackling the suicide menace consist inter-linked, communicative, dedicated people like Principal, Student Welfare Officer, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Teacher guides and hostel wardens. During first year on admission, screening of all students carried out using depression rating scales and personality inventory (EPQ). Those who score moderate to very severe depression scores and/or introvert personality structure are monitored frequently and if necessitated, at times of stress are counseled and treated accordingly. Information so obtained is kept confidential and if demands attention of parents/guardian is disclosed. Currently, we have about 600 students evaluated and actively monitored throughout their course at our medical institution. With these standards, it has been possible to curtail risk of suicide amongst medical students for past several years and also to handle the stress of these students more effectively on an individual basis. Possibly, this approach may be adopted in both undergraduate and post-graduate institutions as a method of dealing with students at risk of self-destructive behaviours, thus making them more reality oriented therapists in our society.
The issues of suicide, death, dying and personal vulnerability, ideally should not be delegated only to departments of psychiatry, but dealt with by physician role models at all levels of the medical college hierarchy on a day-to-day basis.
Increasing awareness among medical students and faculty about suicide risk factors, enhancing coping skills and building support system will go long way in reducing suicide among medical students.
Asst Prof of Psychiatry, SDM College of Medical Sciences, Dharwad
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