who sought treatment for mental health or substance use , and 27.9 % of respondents stated that they would doubt the clinical judgement of a provider who contemplated or attempted suicide .
Given the results of our study and the prevalence of mental illness and suicide among physicians , improving physician well-being should be prioritized . However , physician well-being is subject to various barriers . Our study indicates that stigma remains a significant deterrent to physicians struggling with psychiatric and substance use disorders . Changing terminology and the vocabulary around psychiatric illness is likely an imperative initiative to reduce stigma . For example , a cultural shift toward understanding mental illness as a diagnosable disorder requiring treatment and not a shortcoming that requires “ help ” would likely empower health care professionals to seek appropriate care .
It is unlikely that a singular initiative can address the culture of psychiatric treatment in physicians , considering the heterogeneity of the population . Although access to qualified providers to deliver evidence-based psychiatric care remains a barrier to mental health , targeting the overall attitude of the profession may have the highest yield in addressing these issues . However , attitudes and culture likely vary among specialties , areas of practice ( private vs . community vs . academic ), and various other demographic factors , which makes addressing stigma a moving target .
There is limited objective data on increased risk of mental illness among health care professionals , but work-life balance , administrative responsibilities , moral injury , burnout , years of training , maladaptive behaviors or any combination of these factors have been implicated in various studies . Despite these factors , evidence points towards de-stigmatization as the likely first step in addressing the gaps in mental health . A change in the vocabulary of care from “ help ” to “ treatment ” would likely reduce some of the psychological barriers .
References :
1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . ( 2023 , August 10 ). Provisional suicide deaths in the United States , 2022 . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . https :// www . cdc . gov / media / releases / 2023 / US-Suicide-Deaths-2022 . html #:~: text = The % 20provisional % 20estimates % 20released % 20today , an % 20 increase % 20of % 20approximately % 202.6 % 25 .
2
Association of American Medical Colleges . ( 2021 ). Number of people per active physician by specialty , 2021 . AAMC . https :// www . aamc . org / data-reports / workforce / data / number-people-active-physician-specialty-2021
3
Kalmoe , M . C ., Chapman , M . B ., Gold , J . A ., & Giedinghagen , A . M . ( 2019 ). Physician Suicide : A Call to Action . Missouri medicine , 116 ( 3 ), 211 – 216 .
4
Albuquerque , J ., & Tulk , S . ( 2019 ). Physician suicide . CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l ’ Association medicale canadienne , 191 ( 18 ), E505 . https :// doi . org / 10.1503 / cmaj . 181687
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Dutheil , F ., Aubert , C ., Pereira , B ., Dambrun , M ., Moustafa , F ., Mermillod , M ., Baker , J . S ., Trousselard , M ., Lesage , F . X ., & Navel , V . ( 2019 ). Suicide among physicians and health-care workers : A systematic review and meta-analysis . PLOS ONE , 14 ( 12 ), e0226361 . https :// doi . org / 10.1371 / journal . pone . 0226361
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . ( 2022 , November 8 ). Suicide and occupation . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Retrieved September 01 , 2023 from https :// www . cdc . gov / niosh / topics / stress / suicide . html .
7
Peterson C , Sussell A , Li J , et al . ( 2020 ). Suicide Rates by Industry and Occupation – National Violent Death Reporting System , 32 States , 2016 . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020 , 69 ( 3 ): 57-62 . http :// dx . doi . org / 10.15585 / mmwr . mm6903a1
Dr . Farooqui practices at Integrative Psychiatry and is a Clinical Professor at the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences .
Dr . Summers is the Chief Resident at the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences .
Dr . Tamton is a PGY-2 Resident at the University of Louisville Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences .
Please use the QR-Code below to participate in the UL Dept . of Psychiatry Physician Wellbeing Survey
GLMS provides the Physician Wellness Program ( PWP ), a free confidential counseling service for members .
PWP was designed as a safe harbor for physicians to address normal life difficulties and physician burnout in a confidential and professional environment .
See more information on page 3 .
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