Mental health and suicide prevention-what can be done to increase access to mental health services in my region?

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Niedja Fernanda Nobre dos Santos, a student of the third period of Medicine of the State University of Rio Grande do Norte-UERN, Brazil. She is affiliated to the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

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The mental health of health professionals, especially medical students, is a matter of concern. The literature describes several potentially stressful moments in the life of the medical student, being the formation and medical activity considered of high toxicity regarding the psychological aspect, and points out several reasons for stress among medical students (1). The extremely competitive entrance exam, the long basic course that postpones contact with the profession itself and can cause student frustration, the rhythm of shifts and the choice of specialty stand out as other stressors. are added to this, the situations in which the student resides alone and away from home, especially for the new type of college entrance selection SISU-ENEM, long time and full stroke time, the large amount of information that needs to acquire the quality of the teacher-student relationship and the influence of academic activity on their leisure activities and social relations. Given the above, attempts to minimize this problem are necessary, and for this reason at the UERN School of Health Sciences-FACS, during the month of September the UERN for Life campaign, which is promoted by the Dean of People Management ( PROGEP) together with boards and advisors of the State University of Rio Grande do Norte-UERN (2). With activities that aim to raise awareness about suicide prevention and signs that indicate depression, as well as life-enhancing activities and foster the search for help in promoting the mental health of medical students. In this sense, the campaign in FACS of the Yellow September, is carried out through the Ernani Rosado-CACER Academic Medical Center, which aims to promote the creation of a thematic room with various sensory actions (vent murals, letters of overcoming and stimulation of small happiness). ) and actions with partners that promote self-care (Auricolotherapy, Suction cup therapy, Reiki). Therefore, to increase access to mental health services and suicide prevention, and actions as September Yellow, the reactivation of the psychology clinic in FACS is one possible measure that has received much support from the academic community because of the great importance of this measure This is intended to facilitate access to mental health services within and associated with the university, a better quality of life for medical students.. References

1. AGUIAR, Sâmia Mustafa et al. Prevalência de sintomas de estresse nos estudantes de medicina. J. bras. psiquiatr. [online]. 2009, vol.58, n.1, pp.34-38.
2. Portal UERN: Acesso em: 28 de Outubro de 2019. Disponível em: http://portal.uern.br/blog/campanha-uern-pela-vida-inicia-com-blitz-voltada-para-comunidade-academica/

About the author Niedja Fernanda Nobre dos Santos, is a student of the third period of Medicine of the State University of Rio Grande do Norte-UERN. Member of the Financial Committee of the Ernani Rosado-CACER Academic Center of Medicine. Participant of the Collective Health Study Group. IFMSA Brasil-UERN Trainee and Monitor of the Discipline Medicina e Arte, elective discipline, because I believe that the Humanization of Health is the key to improve the quality of life of users of the Brazilian Public Health System.