Providing effective mental health support for medical trainees is essential due to high burnout and mental health issues. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requires mental health services for trainees. A study evaluated how ACGME-accredited institutions provide these services, aiming to identify gaps and best practices.

Researchers conducted a survey from November 2023 to January 2024, targeting 816 officials at 860 institutions. The survey gathered information on counseling resources, services offered, reporting structures, and counselor qualifications. Out of 816, 343 responses were received, revealing variability in counseling services. Most institutions relied on employee assistance programs, and only 38% provided counseling specifically for the graduate medical education (GME) population. Only 16% offered dedicated GME psychiatry services. Institutions generally perceived their mental health services as adequate, with those having dedicated GME services reporting better fulfillment of trainee needs. However, few institutions collected data on service utilization.

The study highlights the diverse approaches institutions take to comply with ACGME requirements and suggests improving GME counseling guidelines through better data collection and national reporting.