FACULTY PERCEPTIONS OF MENTAL DISTRESS AMONG VETERINARY MEDICINE STUDENTS

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.5157225300911

• Palavras-chave: Teaching, Veterinary Medicine, mental suffering.

• Keywords: Teaching, Veterinary Medicine, mental suffering.

• Abstract:

  Mental distress among university students enrolled in veterinary medicine programs has been studied due to their high susceptibility to stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Despite the volume of epidemiological research mapping the mental health of university students and its statistical correlations, there is a significant gap in the analysis of academic discourse and interactions between teachers and students. This qualitative and exploratory study investigated the perspective of veterinary medicine teachers on the mental health of students through semi-structured interviews. Seven professors were interviewed, four from public institutions and three from private institutions, in different Brazilian states. The results allowed us to argue that although veterinary medicine education has made progress in promoting dialogue and student autonomy, an outdated structure centered on the simple transmission of information persists. This traditional approach continues to influence the professional lives of graduates, impacting both their relationships with employers and with tutors and patients. The demands of the university are reflected and extended in the demands of the job market, creating continuity between academic training and professional expectations.