OMS Mental Health

Students, DOs celebrate the second annual OMS Day of Wellness

On Feb. 10, osteopathic medical students across the country are promoting mental health and wellbeing.

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For the second year in a row, osteopathic medical students (OMS) are promoting the importance of medical student mental health care on the OMS Day of Wellness. This year, Friday, Feb. 10, is the official OMS Day of Wellness.

Responding to studies showing medical students are more likely to be affected by depression than the general public, The Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) in association with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association launched a Mental Health Awareness Task Force (MHATF) in the fall of 2015 to bring the discussion of mental health out of the dark. The MHATF declared the first OMS Day of Wellness last year and didn’t stop there.

Recognizing the lack of research conducted on osteopathic medical student mental health, the MHATF gathered over 10,000 responses to a mental health wellness survey distributed to osteopathic medical students across the country. The results will help the greater profession to understand the current psychological state of students and why it is so difficult for them to seek help.

In April, the MHATF also released this compelling video to raise awareness.

The MHATF continues to spearhead efforts to promote mental health and wellbeing among medical students—actions that have been applauded by Stephen C. Shannon, DO, MPH, president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

“AACOM remains committed to listening to the students, who led this milestone effort, and we encourage active student involvement to improve the public health of future physicians,” he says. “We’ve seen firsthand how mental health issues powerfully impact medical students and the patients they serve.”

The AOA’s House of Delegates has also recognized the importance of medical student, resident and physician mental health. Last year, it passed three resolutions to support devoting resources to addressing burnout and mental health among physicians and trainees. One of those resolutions led to the creation of a mental health task force within the AOA, which is currently examining the best ways to support physicians’ and trainees’ mental health.

Tweeting for wellness

OMS Day of Wellness participants are documenting their celebrations on social media. You can join them by using the hashtag #DOWellness:

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