A study dedicated to evaluating the study and work conditions of students and professors of health sciences in Venezuelan universities, revealed that at least 60% of postgraduate medical students suffer from 1 or more symptoms of depression, according to el Report of the Venezuelan Observatory of Universities.
The director of the Venezuelan Observatory of Universities, Carlos Meléndez, pointed out that mental health problems worsened due to the pandemic, a review Radio Union.
The study estimated that 12% of undergraduate medical school students have suicidal thoughts.
The sociologist explained that when the mental health of health personnel is analyzed, it is evident that Venezuelan university students are placed on top of the crisis of two institutions, the university crisis, and that of the health system.
To the medical, nursing and dental students, in addition to the factors that increased mental health problems in the pandemic, such as closeness to grief, fear of contagion, hostility due to lack of supplies, lack of occupational hygiene and safety; there are the characteristics of the difficulty of continuing with the studies, detailed the director of the Venezuelan Observatory of Universities, Carlos Meléndez.
Currently, 49% of medical students also work, of which 7 out of 10 do so informally.
For his part, the president of the Federation of University Centers of the Central University of Venezuela, Jesús Mendoza expressed his desire for the reactivation of mental health care in the student population.
He also called for the reactivation of face-to-face classes as a student stimulus and to avoid the uncertainty generated by the cessation of classes due to the pandemic.
The study also revealed a high percentage of student and professional migration that ranges from looking for another job to migrating to another country.
Likewise, 39% of medical students claimed to have plans to emigrate, once they have completed their studies, which leaves the country with a worsening deficit of health personnel.
With information from Radio Union
