A campaign to improve the mental health of medical students

Australian medical students responded swiftly and effectively to the increased burden of mental illness in the medical profession, which was highlighted by the 2013 beyondblue National Mental Health Survey.1 In 2012, medical student representatives from Australia’s 20 medical schools passed a health and wellbeing policy,2 then in 2013, voted student mental health as a top advocacy priority for the Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA), choosing to advocate for the mental health of all tertiary students through development of the AMSA Mental Health campaign.

The four key aims of the campaign were to: (i) decrease stigma and increase awareness and mental health literacy among students; (ii) promote preventive measures to improve coping strategies and resilience; (iii) enable and empower students to look out for their peers and take positive action; and (iv) facilitate improved access to and uptake of mental health services.

Our advocacy strategy targeted the general public through broadcast and print media, the medical community through medical literature and conferences, and students through social media and on-campus events.

University campuses are geographical foci for at-risk young people and are therefore ideal sites for implementing effective preventative and early intervention strategies.

A “National Vice-Chancellor Tour” involved meetings of AMSA representatives with Vice-Chancellors (or their nominated representatives) from 12 of the 20 Australian universities housing a medical school. The purpose of these meetings was to explore the experiences and attitudes of the universities towards mental health. University mental health strategies varied greatly in their scope, complexity, student consultation, evidence base, and investment.

Blue Week, a grassroots component of the campaign, aimed to destigmatise and catalyse conversations about mental illness by engaging students on university campuses and in hospitals with blue-themed events and activities. In 2014, Blue Week ran at 17 medical schools, and over 5000 students participated. Activities varied, and included comedy, yoga, meditation classes, massages, guest speakers, and blue-themed parties. Although events were held throughout the year, a national online Blue Week was held during Mental Health Week (6–12 October). During this week we shared and distributed infographics, such as the poster shown in the Box, and over 200 people shared personal experiences and advice on social media. The online Blue Week reached over 90 000 people and engaged over 11 000 in at least one of its components.

AMSA also produced the second edition of the medical student wellbeing guide, Keeping your grass greener;3 coordinated the AMSA Mentor Network; ran Academy of the Mind, an online short course available to medical students internationally; and ran numerous student mental health workshops nationally and at conferences internationally.

The AMSA Mental Health website (mentalhealth.amsa.org.au/) and social media are ongoing focal points for students to access existing resources and information, blog articles,4 relevant news, and a comprehensive database of mental health services.

Although evaluation is difficult due to limited resources, the AMSA Mental Health campaign has engaged thousands of students and medical professionals in Australia and around the world. The campaign continues to grow and evolve, building momentum in the interests of student mental health.

Box – An infographic distributed to participants during Mental Health Week