Graduate health care education is designed to challenge students. They must master advanced science, develop clinical judgment and prepare to serve patients in complex health care systems.
However, the same rigor that prepares them for practice also places them at high risk for burnout, depression and anxiety. Research shows health care students consistently report higher levels of distress than peers in other graduate fields, with consequences that extend well beyond graduation.
“We know the rigor of health care education is necessary, but it comes at a real cost if institutions don’t also invest in student well-being,” said Kurt Hubbard, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Occupational Therapy Academic Officer at Evidence In Motion.
“When burnout takes hold before graduation, it not only undermines student success but also impacts the workforce pipeline we’re working to strengthen.”
Why Health Care Students Face Higher Burnout and Mental Health Risks
The mental health challenges in health care education aren't generic. They emerge from the specific pressures of training to become a clinician.
Heavy Workloads and Clinical Rotations Drive Student Burnout
Students navigate intensive coursework and high-stakes clinical rotations. Long hours, limited recovery time and the constant pressure to perform create an environment where exhaustion becomes inevitable.
Burnout peaks during clinical years and is marked by emotional exhaustion and cynicism, according to a 2025 study in BMC Medical Education.
Balancing Family, Work and School in Accelerated Programs
Accelerated and hybrid health care formats often attract students balancing multiple roles. Many juggle family responsibilities, employment and even relocation to meet program requirements.
The overlap of academic, professional and personal responsibilities compounds strain, researchers reported in ScienceDirect in 2024.
How Stigma Prevents Health Care Students From Seeking Help
From the start, many students internalize the belief that competent clinicians should be self-reliant and stoic. This "superhuman provider" mindset creates stigma, discouraging students from seeking help even when their mental health deteriorates.
“Many of our students aren’t just learners — they’re parents, employees and caregivers, too,” said Hubbard. “That reality adds layers of stress to already demanding programs. When you combine those pressures with a culture that tells future clinicians to ‘tough it out,’ you create real barriers to mental health support.”
A 2023 review in Frontiers in Medicine found fear of stigma and professional inadequacy were among the top reasons medical students avoid treatment. Students from underrepresented or first-generation backgrounds face even higher risks of burnout and stress, according to a 2024 study published by Oxford Academic.
How Student Burnout Affects the Health Care Workforce
Burnout that begins in school rarely ends at graduation. The National Academy of Medicine has declared clinician burnout a crisis, linking it directly to patient safety risks, high turnover and reduced quality of care.
Recent surveys show widespread stress and burnout among nursing students and professionals, jeopardizing both well-being and care delivery.
For higher education leaders, this represents more than a student wellness issue — it's a workforce sustainability challenge. Institutions that graduate students without addressing their mental health risk losing them to early career attrition, job dissatisfaction and preventable errors in patient care.
How Colleges and Universities Can Support Student Mental Health
Higher education leaders are uniquely positioned to intervene. The following strategies can help integrate mental health into the fabric of health care education without compromising academic rigor.
1. Create a Culture That Normalizes Mental Health Support
Embed open dialogue about mental health from orientation to graduation. Faculty vulnerability and leadership modeling can reframe help-seeking as a strength rather than a weakness.
2. Place Mental Health Resources Within Health Care Programs
Move beyond campus counseling centers by embedding mental health professionals directly within health care programs. Tailored workshops, drop-in hours and crisis resources can meet students where they are.
3. Build Rest and Resilience Into Curriculum Design
Audit workloads, adjust clinical rotation schedules and build recovery time into the academic calendar. Tools such as reflective practice groups or "resilience rounds" can help students process their emotional experiences.
Research shows resilience training, mindfulness, emotional regulation and self-care, reduces burnout and improves student well-being.
4. Train Faculty to Recognize and Support Struggling Students
Provide faculty training in trauma-informed teaching, referral protocols and mental health first aid. Educators are often the first to notice changes in student behavior, training ensures they can respond effectively.
“Faculty are on the front lines with students every day, which means they’re often the first to see the warning signs of distress,” said Hubbard. “When we give educators the right tools and confidence to respond, we not only support individual students but strengthen the overall culture of care within a program.”
Why Mental Health Belongs at the Center of Health Care Education
Supporting student mental health isn't optional. It aligns directly with priorities such as accreditation compliance, diversity and inclusion, student retention and workforce readiness.
Just as important, it reflects a values-driven approach that honors students as whole people, not just future clinicians.
As health care programs accelerate and expand hybrid formats to meet national workforce shortages, leaders must ensure their students have the mental health support needed to succeed.