Mental health support resources for medical students

This page is a calm directory, not advice. I'm not a mental health professional, and I can't tell you what you need. What I can do is point you toward people who can help.

If you're thinking about suicide or worried about your safety, please reach out now to the crisis resources on this page; they're free, confidential and there for you, and people do get through this with support.

Start with your own school

Your school's counseling or wellness office is often the easiest first step. They know the pressures of medical school, they can see you quickly, and they can connect you with longer-term care if you need it.

Things worth asking when you call or email:

• How do I schedule a first appointment, and how soon can I be seen?
• Is there a cost?
• How are counseling records kept, and are they separate from academic records?
• Do your services cover me when I'm at a distant rotation site, or by video?

You can also talk to a trusted faculty member, advisor or dean of students. They can't provide therapy, but they can help you find the right person and, if needed, work with you on schedules or time off.

Finding a therapist

If you'd like someone outside your school, these are common ways to find a licensed therapist:

• Online therapist directories. Most let you filter by location, insurance, cost, telehealth and what the therapist focuses on, like anxiety, academic stress or working with healthcare trainees.
• Your insurance's member directory. Your insurance card or member website usually has a search for in-network mental health providers.
• Your primary care doctor or student health. They can often give you names or a referral.
• Ask for a short consult first. Many therapists offer a brief call to see if it's a good fit. It's okay to try more than one.

Finding the right fit sometimes takes a couple of tries. That's normal, not a sign that therapy won't help.

Peer support lines

Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who understands medicine from the inside.

• Physician Support Line. A free, confidential line where volunteer psychiatrists offer peer support to physicians and medical students. You don't need an appointment. Its contact details are in the crisis resources on this page.
• Your classmates and upperclassmen. Not a substitute for professional help, but often the first place you realize you're not the only one.

If reaching out feels hard

Reaching out was never easy for me, and it might not be for you. A few things can make the first step smaller:

• Write instead of call. Many counseling offices take appointment requests by email or an online form.
• Write down two or three sentences first. You don't need the perfect words. "School has been really hard lately and I'd like to talk to someone" is enough.
• Bring a friend. Ask someone you trust to sit with you while you send the message or make the call.

Organizations working on clinician wellbeing

These groups work to make it safer and more normal for people in medicine to seek help. They're good places to read and to find more resources.

• Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation. Works to reduce burnout and protect the wellbeing of healthcare professionals, including pushing to remove barriers that discourage clinicians from seeking care.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Education, research and resources on mental health, including material written for healthcare professionals.
• National Institute of Mental Health. Clear, trustworthy information on mental health and how to find help.
• Student organizations. National medical student organizations, such as AMSA for MD and DO students and SOMA for osteopathic students, often have wellness committees and peer resources.

If you're supporting someone else

If you're worried about a classmate, partner or family member, you can contact their school's counseling office for guidance, encourage them to reach out, and use the crisis resources on this page if you're worried about their safety. For partners and family has more on what helped us.

Whenever you're ready, the resources on this page will still be here. Reaching out is a strong thing to do.