Last week's NY Times health section featured two articles, one entitled, "When Doctors get depressed" based on the article below on doctors and suicide. I was shocked that suicide rates are so alarmingly high among fellow doctors and this fact is not at all discussed in our clinical training. I was aware of anesthesiologists having high rates of drug addition. It's so disturbing that the suicide rate is 4x higher in female physicians when in the general population it's the reverse. How heartbreaking that after dedicating your life to heal others a doctor can be brought to take his or her own life. The job of modern day physicians is extremely stressful, I've experienced being emotionally drained after a packed day of seeing patients! We get little empathy or sympathy from patients or administrators. Doctors, medical students, and health professionals need a lot more emotional support when burnout arises and to be assured that it's not a sign of weakness but of strength to seek out mental help. Physician wellness needs to be an essential and crucial part of our everyday career existence!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/health/views/07chen.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=medical%20students%20depression&st=cse
Another link regarding physicians and suicide is:
http://www.phfl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1:versatility-3-intro&catid=1:latest&Itemid=2
A book entitled, 'Delivering Dr. Emelia,' looks at a young Ob-Gyn's emotional reaction to a malpractice case.
The origin of the phrase 'physician, heal thy self,' as stated in Luke 4:23 and is one that we need to take to heart.
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