What is perhaps even more concerning is  

that less than one in five of those  students seek psychiatric treatment.

Why are so many medical students  depressed and why do so few seek help?

To start, medical school is highly competitive.  Everyone is trying to achieve the best grades,  

the highest test scores, and the most research  to match into their desired specialty.

This fierce competition between students can often  

lead to feelings of inadequacy and impostor  syndrome when things don’t go as planned.

Next, there’s the workload. Succeeding in medical  school requires countless hours of studying  

and hard work. As such, self-care and hobbies  can often take a backseat to everything else.

For some medical students, it can be difficult  

finding the time to seek help –  even when they know they need it.

Finally, the culture of medical school often  

encourages self-sacrifice,  resilience, and deference.

As such, many medical students are fearful of the  

stigma associated with depression and  don’t want to be perceived as weak.

If you’re a medical student suffering from  depression, don’t be a statistic. Schedule time  

for yourself, reach out and talk to someone, and  seek help. You don’t have to suffer in silence.