Living Well Begins In Medical School, Australian Medical Association

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 03 Apr 2008 - 14:00 PDT

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The AMA Work-Life Flexibility report highlights the need for very early emphasis on professional health and wellbeing, according to the Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA).

AMSA President Michael Bonning said that achieving work-life balance was essential to achieving the broader aim of student health and wellbeing and that these principles need to be taught in medical school.

"Being a medical student is stressful by definition - students must learn to juggle study, work, family and social commitments and adjust to working in the context of a hospital system," Mr Bonning said.

"Medical students may be more prone to developing physical and mental illness but may also be more reluctant to seek help in the face of such an illness.

"It is essential that students establish effective coping and time management skills very early on in their training that will see them achieve a healthy and successful work life balance throughout their careers," Mr Bonning said.

Universities are required to include teaching about student health and wellbeing in medical courses, but this teaching needs to be optimized to achieve its aim.

"Student wellbeing needs to be taught in a thoughtful and carefully considered manner to reach all students, particularly those who feel that they are immune to the effects of stress in their lives," Mr Bonning said.

AMSA is launching a campaign later in the year to encourage every medical student to see a general practitioner regularly. The campaign aims to raise the awareness of student health issues and to promote the centrality of a general practitioner to maintaining ones health.

The results of the AMSA-New Zealand Medical Students' Association study of student wellbeing are due for release in August.

Australian Medical Students' Association