PMDC has issued directives to medical and dental colleges and institutions across the country to implement mental health screening.
According to PMDC, timely identification and effective management of mental health issues among students and faculty is essential. This step has been taken in view of the rising mental stress among students and incidents of suicide.
The President of PMDC stated that mental health screening will be conducted in two phases, at the time of admission and on an annual basis.
The President of PMDC has directed all institutions to use authentic and standardized assessment tools and said that students or faculty requiring further assistance should be immediately referred to the psychiatry department.
He further stated that medical and dental institutions should establish active psychiatry departments and formal counseling sections, adding that preventing and effectively managing mental stress among students and faculty is the responsibility of medical and dental institutions.
