Mental well-being among students of selected medical universities in Poland. The role of a family physician

Background
Based on available literature and the practices of primary care physicians, it has been observed that young adults have increasing levels of stress and mental health disorders, which worsens their quality of life. Medical students are a special group due to their stressful studies.

Objectives
An assessment of the well-being of students at selected medical universities in Poland. Determining the role of a family physician in this respect. Increasing awareness of mental health among both students as well as family physicians.

Material and methods
Students of medical faculties (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, emergency medicine) at selected universities in Poland. Form of the survey – an anonymous online questionnaire. The data collected was statistically analysed using STATISTICA v. 13 (StatSoft Inc, USA).

Results
20% of the respondents described their mental condition as good. Anxiety disorders were reported by 52%, sleep disorders by 75%, eating disorders by 46%, and 15% of the participants have been diagnosed with depression. 86% of the students consumed alcohol, and 73% did not use medical help.

Conclusions
Students at selected Polish medical universities report high levels of stress. Many of them have developed anxiety disorders, sleep disorders and depression during the course of their studies. Measures should be taken to raise awareness of the prevalence of mental disorders among students by both students and family physicians. Family physicians should pay particular attention to the mental health of medical students.