Augusta's Contribution to the Mental Health of DCG

OBJECTIVES: This presentation will provide various sources of extracurricular activities in Augusta to the Dental College of Georgia's (DCG) students and staff. With providing outlets to relieve stress, the students and staff can hopefully boost their mental health and decrease chances of suicide. METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to the students and staff of the Dental College asking various questions on how their time was spent prior to here, how it has been spent here, and activities they wish they knew were provided in Augusta. In addition, a few questions were asked to assess their mental health and their encounters of mental health prior and during their time at DCG. RESULTS: The survey results used demonstrated what activities people liked to be a part of prior to their time at dental school as well as how that decreased at the school in part to not knowing alternatives provided in Augusta. Using these results, various extracurricular activities in Augusta were established and shown with photos to bring awareness, engagement and boost mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Death by suicide occurs every 11 minutes and therefore, is the 10th leading cause of death. Between ages 15 to 24 years old, it is the 2nd leading cause of death. The average student at the Dental College of Georgia is about 24 years old. Transitioning from home to a new place like Augusta can be one of many reasons that someone's mental health declines. Augusta has many sources of extracurricular activities that can be used to better students and staff of DCG's mental health and therefore, prevent suicide. IMPLICATIONS: With bringing awareness to Augusta's extracurricular activities, staff and students can engage, boost their mental health, and prevent death by suicide, while also excelling in their studies and care to patients.