Raising mental health awareness for osteopathic medical students

Recognizing that medical students disproportionately suffer from depression, the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents in association with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association established a Mental Health Awareness Task Force.

The task force’s goal is to reduce the stigma of mental illness by raising awareness about the mental well-being of osteopathic medical students. The first step is to conduct a baseline survey of all osteopathic medical students to assess their mental health and use the survey results to develop further resources.

The task force also plans to investigate best practices for support, organize wellness events at osteopathic medical schools and advocate to professional organizations and colleges of osteopathic medicine for increased initiatives, if needed.

“So far, the task force has created an interactive awareness presentation for medical students, which we hope to present at every osteopathic medical school,” Katrina Lin, OMS II, who attends the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa, recently told The DO.

For more information about the task force, including how to join, contact Lin at [email protected].