Mental Health Promotion

In his president’s column in the January 19 issue, Dr. Daniel Borenstein writes, “The psychiatric profession and our academic institutions have largely ceded promotion of health and prevention efforts to others. . . .” Some in psychiatry have, in fact, dedicated our careers to the promotion of mental health.

At the University of Louisville School of Medicine, I direct such a program for entering medical students and their significant others: the Health Awareness Workshop. This is a voluntary four-day program of large- and small-group presentations by university faculty, community experts, students, and residents about the all-encompassing issues of mental health promotion for medical students.

After 20 very successful years, we know students “get the message” to care well for themselves, their colleagues, and significant others in terms of mental health and, in time, take the same knowledge to patients. Some colleagues know of this program, and I’d be pleased to share with others.