Welcome to AMSA's Mental Health Interest Group
With
more than 25% of Americans suffering from a diagnosable mental illness
every year, the ability of clinicians to identify, treat, and
appropriately refer patients is of utmost importance. Regardless of
medical specialty, mental health issues will play a significant role in
your career and have a significant impact on the long-term health of
your patients. One of the goals of the mental health interest group is
to provide a forum for discussion of mental health topics. Also, here
you will find a variety of mental health resources, including toolkits,
links and important dates. Feel free to browse the website and email us
if you have any content suggestions or mental health projects to share.
We would love to hear from you!
Get Involved
Mental Health Project Ideas
- Mental Health Lecture Series
Consider
inviting physicians who treat or advocate for the mentally ill in
conjunction with speakers who have been personally affected personal by
mental illness. Potential topics include: depression, substance abuse
and dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and
general stress management. Click here for suggestions on setting up a MH series.
- Physician & Mental Health Expert Panel
Include a variety of clinicians, case managers and mental health
advocacy workers to give students the real scoop on caring for those
with mental illness.
- Patient Panel Discussion
A forum that allows for the sharing of personal experience with mental
illness can provide a unique supplement to traditional medical
education and help fight the stigma associated with mental illness.
- Interschool Mental Health Conference
Network with Mental Health interest groups at neighboring schools in
your city to put together a weekend conference or symposium on research
and topics of interest.
- Invite a speaker from your State Physicians Health Program
State Physicians Health Programs provide support and advocacy for
physicians struggling with mental illness and substance abuse or
dependence. Information about physicians health programs can be found here.
- Workshop on Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment
Increase student ability to identify substance abuse and dependence by
providing training and education about SBIRT. Info about SBIRT can be
found here.
- Community Outreach Program
Work to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by developing
educational outreach programs that target elementary, middle and high
schools in your local community. We’d love to hear from students who
have experience with these types of outreach programs or have an
interest in developing educational resources to share with other
students.
- Wellness Fair/Seminar
Organize an event that can help students identify stressors and
differentiate between health and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Include
information on stress reduction techniques, healthy eating, exercise
and time management. Other ideas include offering yoga classes,
massages, and healthy snacks on campus.
- Mental Health Journal Club
- 7 and ½ Ideas for Premeds Interested in Mental Health
If you have an idea or project that has worked well at your school, we would love to hear about it!
Toolkit for Curricula Change: Health Disparities for People with Mental Illness