Mental Health Needs of Medical Students in Cameroon

Background: Medical students are exposed to high levels of psychological distress, while institutional support systems remain limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding their mental health needs is essential for guiding effective interventions.

Objective: To describe the perceived mental health support needs of medical students at the University of Yaoundé I, and to identify factors associated with the expression of these needs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires assessing students’ needs. Associations with sociodemographic and academic variables were analyzed.

Results: One-third of participating students (34.9%) explicitly expressed a need for mental health support across three dimensions. Emotional needs were predominant (77%); master’s and doctoral students were three times more likely to report such needs. Academic (46.1%) and socio-economic (3.4%) needs were also significant, particularly among students at master’s and doctoral levels. Despite reported distress, only 41.1% of students sought professional help.

Conclusion: Medical students present multidimensional psychological support needs that intensify as their training progresses. Addressing these needs could strengthen resilience, well-being, and the future professional performance of students.