PMDC urges FJMU to hire mental health professionals amid medical student death

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has expressed grave concern over an alleged suicide case of a Lahore-based medical student following another recent incident where a second student jumped to their death. On Tuesday night, a 22-year-old female medical student from Azad Jammu and Kashmir took her own life by jumping from the fourth floor of a hostel at Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU).

In response, the PMDC has issued a directive to FJMU’s principal, instructing them to furnish a detailed account of the suicide incident within seven days. This includes the precise date, time, and circumstances surrounding the student’s death as per institutional records, any inquiries or fact-finding committees established, initial findings or expected timelines for their reports, measures already taken or planned to bolster student mental health support systems including timely counseling services, and additional safety protocols in place post-incident.

Notably, the PMDC emphasized that such incidents underscore a pressing need to strengthen student support structures. The council highlighted medical and dental students as integral members of Pakistan’s future healthcare workforce. They noted incidents like these are deeply alarming and highlight critical gaps in student mental health services.

The PMDC further advised all medical and dental colleges across the country to recruit qualified counselors or psychologists, ensuring they offer timely guidance and support for students in distress. Universities were also encouraged to establish effective student support mechanisms, including confidential counseling services. The council underscored that proactive mental health care is vital not only to prevent suicides but also to safeguard the wellbeing of future healthcare professionals.

In January alone, two suicide attempts by Lahore university students—both jumping from heights—highlighted a recurring issue that requires urgent attention. This new directive serves as an urgent call for action in strengthening psychological support systems within medical and dental institutions, aiming to create more resilient campuses where student mental health is prioritized and supported.