Stress is a common challenge faced by doctors and medical students alike. The pressures of the medical profession have, unfortunately, led to a rising number of suicides among medical students. Recently, a third-year MBBS student in Chandigarh committed suicide due to overwhelming stress, and earlier this year, a 20-year-old boy in Kota took his own life for the same reason. Each year, alarming numbers of medical students succumb to the pressures of their studies, highlighting the urgent need for effective stress management solutions.
Recognising the importance of addressing this critical issue, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital organised a special lecture aimed at helping their doctors and medical students learn effective stress management techniques. The event featured renowned speaker Shri Rajesh Kumar, also known as MAAsterG, who shared his valuable insights and methods for handling stress.
Doctors have a demanding job that requires constant attention, quick decision-making, and often long working hours. This high-pressure environment can lead to significant stress, affecting their mental and physical health. Unmanaged stress can result in burnout, fatigue, and a decline in the quality of patient care. Doctors must maintain their well-being to provide the best care for their patients.
MAAsterG, with his extensive experience in stress management, guided the doctors through his lecture, which he calls "Vaanis," to reduce stress. His Vaanis are known for their simplicity and effectiveness, making them easy to incorporate into daily routines.
The lecture also addressed a growing concern among medical students. Due to intense academic pressure and high expectations, many students take drastic steps, including abandoning their studies or worse. Rajiv Mehta, Senior Consultant in the Department of Psychiatry at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, emphasises the importance of addressing this issue.
"The lecture we are currently giving on life coaching and the spiritual journey is basically about how, as we are becoming more westernised, western illnesses, especially stress, are increasing significantly. WHO says that depression is the second most common cause of disability in the world after cardiac illness. We are also seeing that the suicide rates among doctors, especially postgraduate students, are rising sharply, and there is a lack of help-seeking behaviour. Just a few days ago, a third-year MBBS student from Sector 32 Government Medical College, Chandigarh, committed suicide."
He continued, “Students, even practicing doctors, are under a lot of stress because nowadays patients have become very demanding. So, we deal with this stress in our own ways based on the knowledge we have. But somewhere, our knowledge is also limited. In such situations, we need a mentor, guide, or spiritual guide. So, MAAsterG is here to tell us how our journey should be, what we should do, why we are in this world, how to move forward, and how to manage our stress.”
