Two suicides and an attempted suicide by students of a medical college within one week in Chittoor have stirred a debate. Many questions such as the students’ ability to handle the syllabus and more importantly a conflict between the student-teacher relationship are being asked.
Though a few things have emerged over the course of investigation, experts and senior doctors say suicides are multi factorial and cannot be blamed on one issue or reason.
Primarily, the study of medicine is one among the difficult courses. Academically it is not only voluminous but also time consuming and it tests both the mental and physical endurance of a person. “It is definitely taxing on an individual and many jump into it without knowing the rigours of it and at times crumble to the pressure,” said the Vice-Chancellor of Dr. NTR University of Health and Sciences (NRTUHS).
While the basic degree of MBBS is around five-and-a-half-years (including house man ship), a PG takes another three years and a second can extend the duration to 11-and-a-half years. At the same time an engineering graduate, who is an Intermediate batch mate, settles down with a plush job within four years. “This at times depresses a medical student,” said Dr. C.V. Rao.
Acquiring grades is not the important factor in medical study. Acquiring skills to handle a problem is important. Interpretation of inputs from clinical experiment and findings and laboratory results are what a doctor should learn and that is where most of them are finding the problem, said Dr. C.V. Rao.
“Google search is a boon and a bane. Today, students without coming to classes have started depending on Google search. They are loaded with information, but they are not in a position to select what is necessary and what is not and that is putting them under pressure, especially in the PG level,” he said.
Another factor that the experts opine is the student-teacher relationship. Most colleges, especially private ones employ part-time faculty and the personal rapport is missing, which is very important in medical study, said Dr. C.V. Rao.
Apart from academic pressures and reported allegations against the college management, there are other factors that need to be considered in cases of suicides, said Principal of the Andhra Medical College Dr. P.V. Sudhakar.
As per a study 7% of people in society suffer from some abrasions and they need assistance. If closely observed in both the recent cases there were some parental and societal pressure. A combination of family pressure, societal and academic pressure appears to have forced them to take the extreme step,” said Dr. Sudhakar.
According to Dr. C.V. Rao, parents also have a role to play. “Most of the parents put their children under great pressure for acquiring a medical seat and once they [children] achieve the rank and get admission they just do not care to interact with their children. The parental concern is missing. In both the recent cases, all including parents, husband, family, friends and college, have failed to protect the two lives,” said Dr. C.V. Rao.
College also has a bigger role. To keep students in a positive shape of mind, we organise meditation classes to teach them how to handle stress, said Dr. P.V. Sudhakar.
