Much like society as a whole, the dental community has increasingly been shining a light on mental health within the profession in recent times. It’s a conversation that is very much needed in the dental student community too.

The elevated stress levels associated with the job are generally well-known. In fact, prior to attending university, when I would tell people that I wanted to become a dentist, one of the most common responses I was met with was statistics about the high suicide rate among dentists (the other most common reaction was sheer, unadulterated disgust at the prospect of staring into people’s mouths all day). More than five years on from then, it seems not much has changed.

A 2019 survey of over 2,000 UK dentists revealed that 54.9% of dentists reported experiencing high job stress. The stresses experienced in the working life of a dentist are many and varied, ranging from financial concerns to chasing UDA targets, from facing litigation to dealing with bureaucracy and treating challenging patients, to name but a few. More worryingly, 43.8% of the sample population reported being unable to cope with the stress in their job, with 17.6% seriously considering committing suicide. This is perhaps a sign that more needs to be done to educate young dentists-to-be about recognising the signs of mental health problems in themselves, equipping them with effective coping strategies, and advising them on how/where to seek help if they need it.

This isn’t just a way to prevent problems for them down the line but is actually something they need now. Although the dental student experience differs considerably from that of qualified dentists, their mental health experience does not. Up to 50% of dental students experience some form of stress in the duration of their studies, which isn’t surprising given the demanding nature of the course – both academically and clinically. This is compounded by the fact that the dental student body tends to comprise perfectionists, each of whom is too accustomed to being the highest achiever in their cohort. All of this doesn’t even begin to consider the non-academic pressures they may face in their personal and social lives.

RECOGNISING THE SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Some stress can be helpful as a motivator and to improve performance. However, when it exceeds a certain point, it can result in a downward spiral of mental and physical exhaustion, feelings of anxiety and eventual burnout.

It’s important to identify the signs of being overworked in ourselves and our colleagues before it gets to this stage. Things to look out for include:

COPING STRATEGIES

Being able to spot these signs is a good start but that’s just one aspect of this struggle. We need to develop effective techniques to help build our resilience in the face of stress.

Largely, this will be relaxation strategies specific to each individual as different things work for different people. Some enjoy the soothing qualities of meditation whereas others prefer the exertion of an intense workout; some like to get in touch with their creative side by painting or baking whereas others just want a simple distraction in the form of a book or a movie. This lack of a definite one-size-fits-all cure is arguably what makes dealing with mental health issues so challenging but perseverance is paramount to finding what works for you.

That said, there is some generic self-help advice that can be applied by all. Fostering healthy habits, such as regular exercise, getting enough sleep and eating well, can help to maintain a healthy state of mind. For students, specifically, there are a few more things to consider. Now, I’m no expert on human psychology or well-being but I have made it through dental school relatively unscathed from a mental health perspective. In light of that, here are the top 3 tips I recommend:

1. Planning is key. The thought of all the work you have to do, be it studies or a part-time job or even housekeeping, can be overwhelming. Prioritise your task list and work accordingly. Creating a realistic schedule with reasonable deadlines can help to increase productivity and keep procrastination at bay. Make sure, and I cannot stress this enough, you also factor in time for leisure too to avoid losing morale!
2. Focus on yourself. A bit of healthy competition is fine but fixating on others’ achievements, often belittling your own in the process, will only be damaging. Remember, at the end of the day, your degree and success will be a measure of you – no one else – so don’t compare yourself to your peers.
3. Open up. There will be days when things just don’t go your way and it all feels too much. Keeping all that negativity bottled up inside will do you no good so find yourself an outlet. Some find solace in prayer, others like to talk to friends and family, and some choose to seek professional help. They may not be able to fix the cause of your stress but they can help to relieve you of some of the burden just by listening.

WHERE TO SEEK HELP

Sometimes you may feel like you have no one within your own circle who you are willing or able to confide in. Sometimes you need more support than they can offer. At times like these, there is still help available. A plethora of resources and helplines are now available – many of which cater specifically to dentists and dental students.

This may be in the form of a counselling service (offered by most universities), a social support group or even medical help from your own GP. A few sources that may be of use include:

• Surah Ar-Rahman (The Holy Qur’an) –https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28900859/ (https://youtu.be/IKZ57sdcFK4)
• BDA Benevolent Fund – financial support for dental students and professionals during a crisis, https://www.bdabenevolentfund.org.uk/
• Health Assured via the BDA – comprehensive and confidential package of services to deal with personal and professional problems, https://bda.org/healthassured
• Positiviteeth on Instagram – a social media wellbeing initiative for dental students at the University of Manchester
• Mental health helplines recommended by the NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/
• Samaritans – charity that aims to provide emotional support to anyone who is distressed or at risk of suicide, https://www.samaritans.org/, 24/7 telephone number 116 123