Reducing stress and mental health decline in Physician Associate programs

Date
2021
DOI
Authors
Pittman, Haley
Version
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The training in Physician Associate (PA) programs is rigorous and stress inducing, placing students at a higher risk for mental health decline. While numerous studies illuminate and invent solutions for a decrease in mental health for medical students, there is very little data that exists for PA students. PA programs place academic, physical, social, and economic stress on the student which leads to poorer mental health. It is vitally important to not only recognize the stress and mental health decline, but to invent ways to reduce it. Faculty, specifically advisors, can help alleviate students’ stress and prevent a fall in mental health. If advisors were to meet with students on a monthly basis, they could have the ability to catch mental health warning signs and provide the appropriate resources for students. Results of this implementation would benefit not only the students, but the entire program and all of the student’s future patients as well.
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