Medical Student Wellness

It is often said that medical school is like drinking from a fire hose. As students take on the rigorous academic and personal challenges that come with training to be a physician, it has become increasingly apparent that medical learners need more support. Unfortunately, mental health services and wellness programming that facilitate learning and personal growth in such a tough environment haven’t always been readily available at Indiana University School of Medicine. 

Now more than ever before, IU School of Medicine is taking a holistic approach to the training and care of our future physicians. Won’t you help support them with the services they need to thrive by making a gift today? 

Since creating the Department of Mental Health Services directed by Samia Hasan, MD, in the fall of 2016, IU School of Medicine has added two psychologists, a therapist/program manager, and a program coordinator. A 24-hour crisis line for any of our learners who may face urgent needs is also available. Still, demand for the services continues to grow. 

As we expand mental health offerings at IU School of Medicine, we are also rolling out preventative programs that include mental health screens and mind-body skills trainings. Our goal is to help learners develop greater self-awareness and resilience. Last year, mental health professionals provided counseling and other services to 10 percent of the medical trainees enrolled at IU School of Medicine’s nine campuses. Not only will our learners benefit from these services, but so will their future patients. 

Your support of IU School of Medicine’s student mental health and wellness fund will allow us to expand mental health screenings; to offer wider neuropsychological testing to detect undiagnosed concerns such as ADHD; and to create programs to equip our learners with mind-body skills to manage the challenges they face.

Gifts to the Medical Trainee Wellness Fund as part of our IU Day campaign will be matched by a generous group of donors with an additional gift of up to $5,000.