Mental Health Committees to Be Established in State-Run Medical Colleges in Maharashtra

mental health of resident doctors
Spread the love

A significant and commendable step has been taken to address the pressing concerns about the mental health of resident doctors.

The Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER) has taken a definitive stance by pledging to establish mental health assessment and redressal committees throughout the entirety of state-operated medical college hospitals across Maharashtra.

This commitment follows a prolonged period of in-depth conversations and thoughtful considerations spanning several months.

These discussions were integral, involving engagements between the DMER and representatives advocating for resident doctors’ interests.

Notably, these discussions were spearheaded by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD)

The escalated conversations were instigated by the acute challenge of substantial stress and experiences of mistreatment faced by resident doctors.

This is due to their exhaustive and continuous responsibilities, coupled with sporadic occurrences of maltreatment by senior doctors or faculty members.

Dr. Sarbik De, occupying the role of vice-president within MARD, assumed a crucial position in these negotiations, emphasizing the critical necessity for specialized frameworks designed to provide support specifically addressing the welfare of resident doctors.


During the most recent round of deliberations involving MARD and DMER, there was a joint consensus to set up mental health redressal committees at both the college and state levels.

Dr. Sarbik De, emphasized the pivotal significance of these committees, stating, “These committees will consist of individuals from diverse departments, providing an avenue for students to voice their concerns.”

“Additionally, they will conduct regular anonymous feedback sessions, enabling residents to report instances of exploitation without any apprehension of facing consequences.”

Alarming figures that were brought to light during a session in the Lok Sabha earlier this year unveiled a distressing reality.

There have been 11 documented cases of suicide among resident doctors in Maharashtra over the span of the last five years.

Dr. Sarbik De, emphasized the proactive role that these redressal committees could assume, emphasizing, “These committees are poised to function as a preemptive measure, actively identifying early warning signs well before resident doctors find themselves in a state of severe distress.”

Despite verbal assurances provided, Dr. Abhijit Helge from MARD emphasized the significance of holding authorities accountable.

“We will leverage the meeting minutes to ensure prompt fulfillment of their commitments,” Dr. Helge affirmed, stressing the necessity for concrete actions in line with the assurances made during discussions.

Furthermore, existing regulations impose a significant financial penalty of Rs 20 lakh on resident doctors in the state if they choose to resign from their positions.

Representatives from MARD contended that this additional financial burden exacerbates the severe challenges faced dealing with mental health of resident doctors.

Dr. Helge emphasized the demand for a distinct committee comprising mental health experts.

This proposed committee aims to meticulously evaluate individual cases and consider the possibility of exempting fines based on humanitarian grounds.

Such an approach holds the potential to alleviate stress factors that significantly contribute to the increased risk of suicides among doctors.

The initiative to institute mental health committees within medical institutions represents a forward-thinking step in acknowledging and tackling the challenges about mental health of resident doctors.

Nevertheless, the crucial transformation of these promised commitments into tangible and effective support mechanisms calls for a comprehensive and robust implementation strategy.

As discussions continue to evolve and promises begin to take shape, it becomes the responsibility of the authorities to meticulously oversee the effective setup and functioning of these crucial mental health redressal committees.

In the upcoming weeks, the focus will be on assessing the practical execution and the effectiveness of these measures.

This evaluation becomes pivotal in safeguarding the mental well-being of the entire medical community, especially resident doctors who grapple with substantial hurdles in their professional paths.



Spread the love
  • Parental Diabetes Affects Children’s School Performance, Study Finds

    Researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, explored how parental type…

  • How To Avoid Parenting Mistakes That Create Entitled Children

    Experts highlight liberal parenting mistakes that create entitled and self-centered…

  • Childhood Abuse Increases The Risk Of Heart Diseases In Adulthood, Study Finds

    Researchers at the American Heart Association reaffirmed the links between…

  • In Death, As In Life: Science Provides Insight Into Near-Death Experiences

    A team of international researchers provides insight into near-death experiences.

  • Study Confirms The Link Between Mental Health And Heart Disease

    Researchers at the University of Birmingham explored the link between…

  • Study Shows The Effects Of Prenatal Drug Exposure On Child Development

    Researchers at the University of Helsinki explored the effects of…

  • Antidepressants Do Not Improve Quality Of Life, Study Finds

    Researchers at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, provided insight into…

  • Parental Conflict Affects A Child In The Long Run: Study

    Experts warn of the negative consequences of toxic parental conflict…

  • Study Reveals The Link Between Alzheimer’s Proteins And Mental Health Issues

    Researchers at Lund University, Sweden, explored the link between pathological…

  • India Stands As The Fifth Happiest Market In The World: Ipsos Survey

    A recent survey by Ipsos declared India to be the…

  • Grey Matter Volume Can Be Used To Predict Mental Health Treatment Outcomes, Study Reveals

    Researchers at the University of Birmingham showed how grey matter…

  • Disulfiram, A Drug To Treat Alcoholism, Can Also Treat Anxiety: Study Finds

    Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science studied how disulfiram…

  • People Can Recover From Mental Disorders And Lead “Thriving” Lives, Study Finds

    Researchers at the Association for Psychological Science revealed that people…

  • Understanding The Mental Health Benefits Of Sleep

    Experts affirm the mental health benefits of sleep by highlighting…

  • Heavy Drinking “Ages” The Human Brain, Study Reveals

    Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania revealed how drinking alcohol,…

  • How Can We Improve The Mental Health Of Children With Autism?

    Understanding Autism, the challenges it poses, and the strategies to…

  • People Want To Age In Their Homes And Communities, Study Reveals

    A poll by the University of Michigan provides insight into…

  • People Condone Lies That May Come True In The Future, Study Reveals

    Research by the American Psychological Association looks into the psychology…

  • Study Reveals Specific Genes Linked To Schizophrenia

    Researchers at Cardiff University discovered the specific genes involved in…

  • Personality Traits Influence Our Post-Retirement Life Satisfaction, Study Finds

    A study published in PLOS ONE reveals how personality traits…

  • High-earning Married Mothers Do More Housework Than Their Spouses, Study Reveals

    Researchers at the University of Bath threw insight into the…

  • Hypertensive Men Are Biased in Their Anger Recognition, Study Finds

    Researchers at the University of Konstanz linked hypertension in men…

  • Exercise Enhances Therapy-Benefits In Depression Treatment, Study Finds

    Researchers at Iowa State University linked exercise to better therapeutic…

  • The Gender-Neutral Terms In Our Languages Are Extremely Gendered, Study Reveals

    Researchers at New York University explored the gendered nature of…

  • How Can Indian Students Channel Their Mental Health Issues Towards Productive Ends?

    Experts recommend innovative self-help strategies to combat mental health issues…

  • Does Mindfulness Help Pregnant Women In Their Motherhood Journey?

    Experts weigh the impact of mindfulness programs on pregnant women,…

  • Stress Has Long-Lasting Effects On The Brain, Study Reveals

    A group of researchers at the University of Bonn linked…