Dr. Ali Zafar
The global prevalence of depression among doctors is 10–15%, while looking over Pakistan, about 25–30% doctors are facing the depressive symptoms. Literature revealed that the medical field as a whole is a leading cause of developing depression in Pakistan. This gave me a reason to write an article regarding it & the depression doesn’t start in clinical years rather it starts during a doctor’s medical school’s journey. I am Dr. Muhammad Ali & here is what i have experienced duirng my medical school journey. MBBS isn’t an easy journey for a student in Pakistan. One need to score higher scores in his matriculation, intermediate and then he has to undergo a highly competitive exam i-e MDCAT. Once a student has fought all the battles really well, he undergoes another series of challenges after entering in the medical college. Our Medical Schools are considered highly reputed across the world yet they are the real terror for the students. An average student has to attend a series of classes, practicals, clinical rotations & has to undergo series of examinations including, Block exams, mid term exams, monthly stages, substages, OSCEs, sendups etc. He has to study 18 different subjects during these five years & has to undergo almost five exams per year. An average student, who once was a highly competent, is now struggling to pass his annual examination. He faces self doubts after failing in the examinations, he faces insomnia because of the stressful environment of college, he fears the exams & try to self medicate himself with anxiolytics. I had a fellow with me in final year MBBS, who started his medical study in 2003 & he was in Final Year MBBS even in 2022. Imagine kinda stress he would have been taking on his shoulder. I have seen so many good students, who were undergoing anxiety, depression, insomnia even psychosis because of this stress. Imagine how would he treat his patients if he isn’t mentally/psychlogically sound? And when they go out in the hospitals conditions are even worse. I feel like there is an utmost need of behavioural therapies, psychological training sessions, stress management workshops & mental health awareness. Our medical schools should arrange healthy mental health workshops for the betterment of our students & their sole focus should be on, not only their medical education but their mental health & stress management as well. Doctors are assets of a country, their foundation shouldn’t be laid down on harsh memories & bad experiences of their medical school rather they should feel enthusiastic & motivated to Serve our nation.
