Practice what you preach
healthcare students at the heart of a vicious cycle

Mental health is a human right and the EU’s mental capital is a key resource for the EU’s success as a knowledge-based society, its ability to realise its strategic social and economic policy objectives and to promote and protect the well-being of its population through economically and socially challenging periods, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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As the European Framework for Action on Mental Health and Wellbeing stated, “a resilient Europe needs resilient citizens.” The European youth and future healthcare workforce are a vital part of the European Union healthcare system’s resilience and thus attention should be paid to their needs. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the needed attention to the mental health situation of pharmaceutical students emphasizing the importance of their mental health promotion, protection and care, and it is now more than ever the time to make it a priority.

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Following multiple survey reports published in recent years by healthcare student organizations, the findings are clear: in addition to the distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health, healthcare students live in an environment which exposes them to multiple drivers of distress.
 

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