The high-stress learning environment in medical and dental school can contribute to extreme burnout, depression, and dropout rates, especially among underrepresented students. The path to becoming a physician or dentist is notoriously grueling — marked by long hours, significant academic pressure, and emotionally intense clinical experiences. For many students, the mental and emotional toll can be severe.
Studies show that burnout, depression, and suicidal ideation are common among medical and dental students. A 2016 meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that 27.2% of medical students globally experience depression or depressive symptoms, and 11.1% report suicidal thoughts. Similarly, dental students also report high levels of stress and burnout, with contributing factors including academic overload, competitive environments, and limited support resources according to a report, “Burnout, Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Dental Students,” published in the National Library of Medicine.
In recent years, a growing number of medical and dental schools have taken steps to address this crisis. Institutions such as Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the University of Washington (UW) School of Dentistry are implementing innovative programs aimed at supporting student well-being — with particular attention to the unique challenges faced by students from underrepresented groups.
Harvard Medical School’s Comprehensive Wellness Approach
Harvard Medical School has developed a holistic mental health and wellness program that promotes emotional, physical, intellectual, and social well-being for its students.
“Our goal is to empower students to define and strive towards their own sense of well-being and bring their full selves to work as student doctors and future physicians,” according to the HMS website. The school aims to achieve this by normalizing the human experience, thus fostering a strong, integrated community of social support and close collaboration among students, faculty, and administrators. Creating an open, supportive culture equips students with practical skills to promote well-being across physical, mental, financial, spiritual, social and intellectual dimensions.
The initiative offers counseling, peer support groups, wellness coaching, and online mental health screenings. The program is designed to help students navigate the pressures of medical school while building sustainable self-care habits. It includes providing funds for student-led, well-being activities and promoting well-being in the curriculum. The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) also sponsors community-building wellness activities every semester:
- Well-being panel during introduction to the profession (ITP)
- Goat yoga on the HMS quad
- Fall apple picking
- The Office of Student Affairs open house
- Society mixers and holiday gatherings
- Spring into wellness
All medical and dental students enrolled in Harvard’s Pathways curriculum and Health Science and Technology programs are eligible to apply for funding through the HMS Student Maxi Well-being Fund. The fund supports new endeavors that engage and inspire the student community in healthy habits and in fostering resilience.
In addition to broad wellness resources, Harvard is also home to the Mental Health for All Lab — an initiative focused on improving access to mental health care in underserved communities. The lab’s EMPOWER program, in particular, supports student- and faculty-led mental health equity efforts and training, with an emphasis on supporting marginalized populations.
Peer Support at the University of Washington
At the UW School of Dentistry, peer-to-peer connection is seen as a powerful tool for supporting student well-being. Through its peer wellness coaching program, the UW trains student health educators to provide confidential, non-clinical support for peers dealing with stress, burnout, and isolation.
LiveWell is another initiative that offers a plethora of resources to aid students in making informed decisions about their health and well-being. It combines the expertise of professional staff with the passion of peer health educators to provide evidence-based health promotion, advocacy education, and prevention services.
Peer support can be particularly beneficial for underrepresented students, who often face added pressures related to bias, lack of representation, and systemic inequities. According to a report by the American Dental Education Association, students from underrepresented backgrounds are more likely to encounter feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome during dental training.
Additionally, UW students can register for a free Let’s Talk session via Zoom with a licensed mental health counselor, available in the School of Dentistry.
The Compounding Impact on Underrepresented Students
While mental health challenges affect many students in medical and dental school, students from underrepresented groups often experience them at higher rates with fewer avenues for support. The stigma surrounding mental health — coupled with limited access to culturally competent providers and experiences of discrimination — can intensify stress and make it more difficult to seek help.
Efforts to address these disparities have gained momentum in recent years. National advocacy groups, such as the American Association of Medical Colleges and American Dental Education Association, have urged schools to implement mental health strategies that acknowledge and respond to the specific experiences of underrepresented students. Initiatives like EMPOWER and peer coaching represent a growing commitment to equity in mental health support.
A Call for Sustained Action
As conversations around student mental health become more mainstream, experts stress the need for ongoing institutional support and transparency. This includes expanding counseling services, creating safe spaces for dialogue, and ensuring that wellness programs are inclusive and accessible.
The pressure to succeed in high-stakes academic environments isn’t likely to ease anytime soon. But by investing in mental health resources — and tailoring them to the needs of all students — medical and dental schools can take meaningful steps toward preventing burnout and supporting the next generation of health care professionals.
