NMC Task Force Meeting on Mental Health

New Delhi: The National Task Force constituted by the Anti-Ragging Cell of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to hold a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the issues related to the mental health and well-being of medical students.

Issuing a Public Notice in this regard on 21.05.2024, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of NMC informed that the meeting would be held in hybrid mode with the stakeholders namely Students Association, Students studying in Medical colleges in India or parents of medical students.

Informing that the meeting details would be released through a public notice on the Commission's website, NMC asked interested stakeholders to submit their response by 25th May 2024 by filling up a Google Form.

"Anti-Ragging cell in NMC has constituted a National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students. Task Force has decided to hold a meeting to hear stakeholders namely Students Association, Students studying in Medical colleges in India or parents of the students," NMC mentioned in the notice.

"The meeting details will be disseminated through a public notice on the NMC website, with tentative scheduling starting from May 27, 2024 onwards. All the stakeholders are requested to submit their interest by 25th May 2024 through Google Form given below for participating in the meeting which may be held in physical/virtual/hybrid mode" it further added. The Google form link is mentioned in the notice attached below.

The stakeholders have been directed to fill up the Google Form to record their response including their name, specify whether they are a student (UG/PG), faculty, parents or students' association. NMC has also sought the details including their email ID, mobile number, and their preference regarding the mode of joining the meeting.

Also Read: NMC Initiates Online Survey on Mental Health, seeks response from MBBS, PG medicos, Faculties

It had earlier reported that recently taking cognizance of cases of depression and suicide by medical students, the Anti-Ragging Committee of NMC had set up a National Task Force to address the mental health of medicos.

This committee comprised 15 members of the Apex Medical Commission and it was decided that this committee would study the existing literature and data on mental health and suicide of medical students, analyze factors contributing to these challenges, and propose evidence-based strategies for improving mental health and prevention of suicides. It was announced that this panel might also pay a visit to the colleges where incidents of suicides had been reported.

NMC had announced that the Task Force would submit its final report by 31st May 2024. Later, the Task Force constituted by NMC initiated an online survey on the mental health and well-being of medical students.

Initiating the survey, medical students were asked to submit details regarding the mental health illnesses they were suffering from- including their mental health history. Postgraduate medical students were asked to submit the details of their workload, and their overall stress level including their self-care practices. Faculties and administrators of the medical colleges were also asked to share the details of their stress levels at their workplace, extracurricular and wellness workshops conducted at their institutes and other related details concerning the mental health of the medical students.

As per a recent report, more than 37,000 medical students submitted their response to the government authorities, indicating that they are suffering from mental stress.

To view the NMC notice, click on the link below:

Also Read: More than 37,000 Medicos respond to NMC survey, confirm Suffering from Mental Health Issues