Uniformed Medical Student Perspectives about Mental Health: Thematic Analysis of Written Reflections

Introduction Medical students, including uniformed medical students, are at greater risk of depression, anxiety, and burnout compared to their age-matched peers, yet relatively few medical students choose to seek help from mental health professionals. This study aimed to evaluate medical students' reflective writings to identify common themes and attitudes around mental health - for both the medical students themselves and how they view their future patients. Materials and Methods Written reflections on the topic of mental health were completed during a required pre-clerkship reflective practice course. Third- and fourth-year medical students were asked whether the reflections they had completed could be used for analysis. Qualitative analyses were conducted to identify themes. The study was deemed exempt by the USU Institutional Review Board. Results Written reflections from 50 uniformed medical students were reviewed. Four themes were identified: Mental health is health, caring for the caregiver, defining bias, and mental health and the mission. Conclusions Written reflection created an opportunity for medical students to discover their own perspectives on mental health and potential barriers to accessing mental health care. Medical schools should seek opportunities to incorporate reflective writing into the curriculum.