Due to concerns regarding the mental health of students and teachers in medical and dental colleges, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has mandated all medical colleges to implement a mental health screening system.
Dr Rizwan Taj, President of the PM&DC, said the importance of timely identification and effective management of mental health issues, highlighting the rising cases of mental stress and suicide among students.
Students and teachers requiring additional support should be promptly referred to the psychology department. Medical and dental institutions are expected to establish dedicated psychology and counselling sections that utilise reliable and standard assessment tools. Mental health screenings should occur in two stages: during admission and on an annual basis. It is the responsibility of medical and dental institutions to prevent and effectively manage mental stress among both students and teachers.
