National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students in India has been constituted to lookinto problems of suicide by medical students. National Task Force has submitted its report in June 2024, but not in public domain.

•The core mission of every medical college is education, which is why it is often said that medical education is the foundation of a country's healthcare system.

•The essential goal is to enlighten young minds and guide them to become compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals.

•These institutions are not merely centers for healthcare services; they are where medical knowledge, critical thinking, compassionate care, and scientific inquiry are cultivated and nurtured.

•Medical teachers play an irreplaceable role in shaping the future of healthcare.

•They are the pillars of the medical community, dedicatingthemselves not only to the clinical care of patients but also to the profound responsibility of nurturing the next generation of doctors.

•They guide medical students by transferring knowledge, imparting skills, and mentoring them in compassionate andethical care.

•They embody and instill the values of compassion, empathy,and ethical care, mentoring students to become not just competent doctors, but compassionate healers.

•The impact of guidance from medical teachers is profound, enduring, and infinite.

•In medical colleges, providing healthcare services and conducting research are important, but these activities should augment and serve the primary purpose of training and educating medical students. •It should not be the other way around, where medical students are used to fill gaps caused by a lack of resources in the healthcare system.

•This distinction is crucial.

•Blurring these lines can weaken academic standards and jeopardize the safety and well-being of patients and the future healthcare system of the country.

•It's essential to maintain this balance with clarity and conviction.

2. Terms and References of the National Task Force

•Term: The National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students will submit its final report by 31st May, 2024.

•During this period task force will submit its progress report to the Anti-Ragging Cell of NMC once in a month.

•References:

•Scope of Work: The Task Force shall study existing literature and data on mental health & suicide of medical students, analyze factors contributing to these challenges, and propose evidence-based strategies for improving mental health & prevention of suicides.

•The committee may visit the Colleges where incidents of suicides have been reported.

•Reporting: The Task Force shall submit a comprehensive report outlining key findings and actionable recommendations for promoting the mental health of medical students by 31st May 2024.

•The task force will submit the monthly progress report to the Anti-Ragging Cell.

•Meetings: The Task Force shall convene regular meetings,either virtually or in person, as necessary to fulfil its mandate.

•Additionally, committees may visit the medical colleges where incidents of suicide have been reported.

•The committee may co-opt other Members on a need basis to facilitate its study and timely finalization of the report.

Task Force has made various recommednations to deal with important issue of Mental Health and Well-being.

There is need for debate and discussion about these recommendation.