NMC asks medical colleges to integrate Yoga in medicos' Lives to Promote Mental Health

New Delhi: In its Report of the National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students, the National Medical Commission (NMC), has recommended that medical colleges integrate yoga into students' lives by organising regular classes and seminars and also include it in the curriculum to reduce stress, prevent mental illness and develop resilience.

According to the online survey conducted by a National Medical Commission (NMC) task force, around 28 per cent of MBBS and 15.3 per cent of PG medical students reported having been diagnosed with mental health conditions.

NMC Anti-Ragging Committee had set up the National Task Force to study existing literature and data on the mental health of medical students and propose evidence-based strategies for improving the same.

This Task Force had initiated an online survey, collecting data from medical students, faculties, and administrators regarding mental health history, workload, overall stress level, etc. More than 37,000 medical students had submitted their responses to the government authorities, indicating that they were suffering from mental stress.

After analyzing the data collected from the in-person visit to the medical colleges, the online survey, and the meeting with stakeholders, the Task Force noted that mental health conditions have been diagnosed in 7,115 (27.7%) students, with 3,780 (14.8%) having one condition, 1,851 (7.2%) having two, and 1,045 (4.1%) having three conditions. To ensure the mental health and well-being of medical students, the NMC Task Force has issued the several recommendations to the medical colleges across the country.

The survey, which included 25,590 undergraduate students, 5,337 postgraduate students, and 7,035 faculty members recommended that resident doctors work no more than 74 hours per week, get a weekly one-day off and seven-eight hours of daily sleep.

It also recommended that colleges organise and maintain diverse sports activities, overseen by a sports committee, with dedicated time allotted for physical activities.

Further, to mitigate social isolation and enhance the well-being of medical students, it is crucial to implement a policy supporting the establishment of diverse social groups in medical colleges, the National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students of the National Medical Commission (NMC) said in its report released recently.

The Samajika Sanskriti Campus Council can be set up aimed to reduce social isolation and enhance well-being by supporting diverse social groups and activities in medical colleges. Headed by senior faculty and student representatives, it would allocate resources for various cultural, recreational, and festival events, the task force recommended.

"Yoga also plays a crucial role in preventing mental illnesses by addressing early signs of mental distress and equipping students with healthy coping mechanisms to manage the pressures of medical education," the task force said.

"Medical colleges can integrate yoga into students' lives by organising regular classes, workshops, and seminars, providing resources for self-practice, including yoga in the curriculum, and creating a supportive environment that emphasises the importance of self-care," it stated.

For High-Risk Group Identification and Referral, the task force proposed a comprehensive peer support model in medical colleges, leveraging senior students to support juniors, aiming to improve mental health, provide academic and emotional support, and prevent suicide.

The programme includes safe spaces, anonymous reporting, professional support integration, mental health awareness campaigns, and suicide prevention workshops.

It further stated that students dependent on substances should be encouraged to seek help while maintaining confidentiality rather than be reprimanded. "This policy focuses on health and recovery, acknowledging that substance dependence is a health issue requiring professional intervention. Ensure that de-addiction services are readily accessible to students on campus," the task force said in its recommendations.

In the 'Recommendation for Students with Mental Illness or Attempted Suicide', the task force stated that every medical college must establish a Department of Psychiatry with sufficient psychiatrists, counsellors, nurses, and support personnel.

A crisis intervention strategy shall be in place to inform and involve immediate family members during mental health crises such as attempted suicide and mental health emergencies. An evaluation committee should be formed to assess 'fitness to practice'. There should be an aim to balance the rights and well-being of medical students with mental health issues against the imperative to maintain patient safety and quality care at the medical college, the task force said.

It also stressed on enforcing mandatory reporting of suicide attempts and deaths by suicide to ensure data collection, accountability, and the development of targeted interventions for mental health support. The task force also provided specific suggestions for medical students in which it stressed on effective time management, saying much stress results from unfinished assignments and poor time management and suggested students develop habits that are in keeping with the requirements of their curriculum.

It urged them to avoid overloading, practice mindfulness/meditation, do regular exercise, sports activity or yoga, inculcate healthy sleeping and eating habits and connect with peers, family, and mentors for emotional support and learn to handle unfamiliar challenging situations.

"Many students have very high expectations of themselves and always wish to perform with perfection. Excessive competition can also result in undue stress. It is suggested that students should set realistic expectations and focus on learning rather than perfection," the task force said.

"Medical students should seek professional help to tide over difficult periods and also if they find it difficult to cope with the demands of the course," it stressed.