BACKGROUND:
Mental wellbeing of healthcare students is a persistent issue across disciplines. Intensive curricula of healthcare programs – balancing demands of academic and clinical schedules – place substantial pressure on students, making it difficult to prioritize wellbeing. Despite research focused on mental health and retention of healthcare students internationally, the literature lacks a focus on the well-being of midwifery students.

OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this study are three-fold: 1. Assess mental health of midwifery students in the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 2. Identify factors that influence the mental health of student midwives. 3. Identify priority interventions to inform the development of wellness programming for student midwives.

METHODS:
For this study, a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used.Phase one – Population-based online survey including validated tools for mental health concerns and burn-out. Phase two – Qualitative focus groups/interviews

RESULTS:
Mental health – in the form of stress, anxiety, and depression – appears to deteriorate throughout midwifery training. Ontario midwifery students report moderate levels of personal burnout across all four years of their program. Work-related burnout appears low early, increasing to moderate in years three and four. Most students express adequate access to factors such as sleep, nutrition, and socialization; however, many more are dissatisfied with their lifestyle. Students perceived sessions related to preparation for upcoming clinical rotations and work-life to be of most benefit to overall wellness, followed by sessions pertaining to academic and life skills.

CONCLUSIONS:
Midwifery students demonstrate willingness to report on wellness factors and partner in improving their educational experiences. We hope to develop a wellness initiative to be implemented within the midwifery program with the goal of increasing educational and professional longevity.

KEY MESSAGE:
To continue to grow midwifery in Canada, midwifery students must successfully complete their training programs and go on to have longevity in the profession. Poster session 3 (Group B)