As we’ve written about on the blog several times before, the life of a doctor can be very challenging on their mental health. They want to help everybody, but they often do so by neglecting to care for themselves. This can lead them down a path of depression, despair, hopelessness and eventually suicide.
Recently, I read a piece that spoke about orthopedic surgeon suicides and how it’s a growing trend, and I wanted to share some of the highlights from the article. However, if you have some time, please check out the moving piece and learn more about this concerning trend.
Suicide Trends Among Surgeons
About a third of the way through the piece, the author begins to talk about some trends when it comes to physician suicides. Some of these statistics were very surprising, while some others, sadly, weren’t surprising at all. Here are some of each.
- One million patients lose their doctor to suicide each year.
- Most doctors know at least one colleague who has died by suicide.
- For every female physician who commits suicide, four male physicians die by suicide.
- Women prefer to overdose, while men oftentimes choose firearms.
- Sensitive doctors, those who care most about their patients, are at the greatest risk, as they are sometimes overburdened by trying to help everyone or are punished for not choosing more expensive treatment options.
- Many doctors cite inhumane working conditions in their suicide notes.
- Bullying, hazing and sleep deprivation all increase suicide risk.
- Doctors fear lack of confidentiality if they seek mental health care, so oftentimes they don’t seek out help.
- Ignoring doctor suicides leads to more doctor suicides.
- Surgeons have the highest rate of suicide.
Suicide is a sad reality that many of us in the medical community have to face on a regular basis. As noted above, many doctors have a colleague or know someone in their professional circles who has ended their life by suicide. And when you look at that list above, it’s pretty clear why. Doctors want to help everyone, and when they can’t, they start down a path that discourages them to get help, which only makes it harder to break free from the cycle.
Clearly we need to rethink the whole system and work toward shifting towards a society that doesn’t stigmatize getting mental health counseling or putting the bottom line ahead of the doctors and patients. If you or someone you know is struggling, help them get help. If the warning signs are there, even if you just suspect they are there, help that person get counseling or support.
We lose about one physician a day to suicide. We need that to change, and we need it to change soon.
