When entering a medical residency program, you will embark on the most exciting move while you strive for your medical educational goals that come with its own set of problems. Throughout the decades, studies have noted that medical residents face issues with poor mental conditions and clinical depression during the duration of their residency. About 32% of the residents have exemplified their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings linked to the depressive symptoms. However, what are the main causes and what steps are taken to counteract these hardships by the relevant authorities?
Stress in residency
The notable factor that triggers these mental conditions is the difficulty of the residency programs. Career burnouts are brought forward through the stress involved in the hospital environment and/or medical errors, considering the time you spend under residency programs that worsen the residents’ mental condition.
Sadly, several of these processes are cyclical in nature. The lengthier operating hours lead to insomnia. Insomnia is linked to enhanced possibilities for errors and negative performance in the residency programs leading to the symptoms of depression. With these difficulties, in their initial years, numerous residents commence residency programs right after graduating from medical school.
Feeling isolated professionally
Furthermore, engagement with the patients and untrained faculties notably increase the depressive symptoms among the residents. The lack of interaction with friends and family can also lead to an isolated self. For instance, the programs are more aimed at research instead of tackling patients who are constantly faced with depression through video calls.
A few identical findings related to the relationship between the mentor and the residents. According to a study, the medicines have higher depressive symptoms in resident doctors and nurses. The specialty here sports a few of the lengthiest work hours that are less helpful for the faculty feedback with less valued rotations in-patient internship. The tough schedules somewhat deliver a lonely experience for the residents having a great impact on the mental well-being of the medical resident. It is expected that we need to take a closer look at how we tackle these issues for medical residents and pinpoint exactly what steps are needed to ensure that these hurdles do not persist unattended.
