The National Medical Commission (NMC) has made an important update to the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum, mandating that MBBS students acquire suicide risk assessment as a certifiable skill starting in 2024. This move is aimed at improving psychiatric competency among future doctors and addressing India’s growing mental health crisis.
Suicide Risk Assessment in Medical Education
As part of the revised CBME 2024 guidelines, all MBBS students in over 700 medical colleges across India will now be trained in suicide risk assessment, alongside the diagnosis and management of depression at the primary level. This critical addition to the curriculum is welcomed by psychiatrists and mental health professionals, who view it as a major step forward in preparing doctors to handle the increasing mental health challenges in the country.
Previously, psychiatry training was not a significant part of the MBBS curriculum, which left many doctors with limited or no formal skills in this area. Dr. Kishor M., the Chief Coordinator of the Indian Teachers of Psychiatry (IToP) and Head of Psychiatry at JSS Medical College, emphasized that “generations of doctors had little or no psychiatric skills post their MBBS education.” The inclusion of suicide risk assessment now ensures that all doctors are equipped to assess and manage patients at risk for suicide.
Why Is Suicide Risk Assessment Important?
India faces a significant burden due to suicide, with the country recording the highest number of suicide deaths globally. A recent Lancet study estimated the national economic burden of suicide in India at $16.7 billion. In response, the NMC’s inclusion of suicide risk assessment as a core skill aims to reduce this crisis by equipping future doctors with the tools to identify and intervene in cases of suicide risk early on.
Training Methods and Tools
The NMC’s 2024 guidelines specify that suicide risk assessment training will be taught through methods like role play, bedside teaching, and simulation exercises. These interactive teaching approaches ensure that students not only learn the theoretical aspects of suicide risk assessment but also practice real-world applications in clinical settings.
To enhance learning, tools like the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) may be integrated into the curriculum. Additionally, innovative technologies, such as the ‘Self-Assessment for Life’ (SAFL) mobile app developed in Mysuru during the COVID-19 pandemic, have shown encouraging results. This app, used by institutions like Bangalore Medical College and JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSSAHER), allows students to self-assess or assess others’ mental health while maintaining confidentiality.
Psychiatrists’ Support for NMC’s Decision
The Indian psychiatric community has praised the NMC for making psychiatry training mandatory for MBBS students. According to Dr. Kishor, this update ensures that all medical students will receive 40 hours of psychiatric training and six weeks of clinical exposure in psychiatry, making suicide risk assessment and other mental health skills integral to a doctor’s education.
Long-Term Impact
By incorporating this skill, the NMC is working to address the mental health crisis that grips the country. Doctors will be better equipped to manage mental health cases, identify at-risk individuals, and make timely interventions that could potentially save lives. This curriculum reform will have a profound impact on the healthcare system, fostering a new generation of doctors capable of addressing the complexities of mental health in India.
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