Depression and suicidal ideation among medical students: a literature review

Abstract

Background: Neuropsychiatric diseases account for the largest proportion of the global burden of non-communicable diseases with depression being the leading cause of disability worldwide. Depression is a serious illness which can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, school and at worst lead to suicide. The rate of depression among health professionals is grossly alarming. Despite having a wealth of knowledge on mental health issues and being in close proximity with psychiatrists, it is ironical that a large proportion of medical students globally succumb to depression.
Objectives: To identify the association between depression and suicidal ideation among medical students and its implication to their verall health and patient care. To search literature for preventive strategies which are essential in curbing the menace of depression and suicidal ideation among medical students.
Method: An electronic search of published literature was conducted through PubMed, Google scholar, Embase and Medline using a variety of search items to find studies and systematic reviews on depression and suicide among medical students. Subsequently, the prevalence of depression and association between depression and suicidal ideation among health professionals was assessed. Also, the effects of depression on medical students with regards to their productivity and patient care were highlighted.
Result: The result of this literature review showed an association between depression and suicidal ideation. Depression is commoner in female medical students and it impairs learning which in turn affect patient care. Long hours of lectures, financial burden in the form of student loans, insufficient sleep, multiple call hours, have been identified as risk factors for depression in medical students.
Conclusion: There is a significant risk of depression and suicidal ideation among medical students worldwide. Integration of mental health services into already existing medical services offered by university health centers, provision of free and timely counselling services by psychologists and implementation of mental health policies are strategies for curbing depression especially among medical students. This way, medical students can grow to become healthy professionals who can model and promote healthy lifestyles in their patients.