The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has directed all medical and dental institutions across the country to immediately implement structured mental health screening protocols in response to rising cases of student suicides and severe psychological stress.
In a statement, the council emphasised that safeguarding and improving the mental wellbeing of students and faculty was of critical importance, noting that the academic environment in medical and dental colleges is both rigorous and mentally demanding.
Institutions have been instructed to introduce formal screening systems to enable early identification and timely management of mental health issues. The initiative aims not only to enhance academic performance but also to support students’ professional development and overall wellbeing.
According to the directive, mental health screening will be conducted at two key stages: at the time of admission to identify pre-existing concerns, and annually thereafter. The requirement applies to undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as faculty members.
The PMDC further stated that only validated and standardised assessment tools should be used. Individuals identified as experiencing psychological distress must be referred promptly to psychiatry departments for comprehensive evaluation, treatment and ongoing follow-up.
The council has also made it mandatory for all institutions to establish fully functional psychiatry departments and dedicated counselling units to provide immediate and effective mental health support to students and staff.
These facilities must be adequately staffed and equipped to ensure confidential, professional counselling and timely intervention. The PMDC underlined that primary responsibility for preventing and managing mental stress rests with the institutions themselves.
The council noted that structured screening and effective counselling systems would not only improve academic standards but also positively impact the professional competence and mental health of future doctors and dentists.
All institutions have been strictly instructed to ensure immediate compliance with these directives, warning that any delays will not be tolerated.
The directive follows a series of tragic incidents in recent months involving student suicides at various medical universities, which have intensified concerns over mental health within academic institutions.
