Mental Health Statistics

Physicians

BURNOUT

  • 44% of physicians report feeling burnt out
  • Family pressures, chaotic environment, time pressure, and low control of pace all foster burnout among physicians

SUICIDE

  • Physicians have over 2 times the rate of suicide compared to the general population
  • Male doctors have suicide rates as much as 40% higher than the general population, and female doctors up to 130% higher
  • 300 to 400 physicians die by suicide each year

BARRIERS TO SEEKING CARE

  • 40% of physicians avoid seeking care, fearing negative consequences to their license
  • Physicians usually suffer in silence
  • Physicians sometimes use cash, self-prescribe, or use false identities to receive mental health treatment to avoid insurance records

NATIONAL CONSEQUENCES

  • Loss of productivity due to physician burnout is the equivalent of eliminating seven entire medical school classes

Medical Students

BURNOUT

  • 1 in 4 medical students around the world shows depressive signs and symptoms
  • A 2018 meta-analysis of over 16,00 students worldwide found that 44% of suffered from burnout

TREATMENT

  • Among medical students experiencing depressive symptoms, only 16% seek psychiatric tratement

BARRIERS TO SEEKING CARE

  • The most commonly cited barriers to using counseling services were:
    • Lack of time (48%)
    • lack of confidentiality (37%)
    • stigma associated with using mental health services (30%)
    • costs (28%)
    • fear of documentation on their academic record (24%)
    • fear of an unwanted intervention (26%)

STIGMA

  • Many students avoid discussing their mental health issues in their medical school or residency applications, for fear of them being seen as red flags
  • Discussing experiences with physical ailments may not be scrutinized in the same manner
  • This sends a message to aspiring physicians that discussing mental health may not be appropriate in this field

COPING STRATEGIES

  • Medical students find it helpful to:
    • Get support from peers
    • make time for exercise
    • Journal to prevent burnout and mental health problems

Pre-Med Students

DEPRESSION

  • Nearly twice the number of pre-medical students belonged in the category of “severely depressed” as non-pre-medical students

STRESS

  • More than a quarter (26%) of pre-meds experience stress “pretty much always”
  • Another percent say they experience it “frequently”

NEGATIVE FEELINGS

  • 85.58% exhibit a fear of failure
  • 79.07% feel inadequatee

PRE-MED CULTURE

  • Pre-med culture is known to be toxic and stress-inducing
  • Students often prioritize their academics, extracurriculars, and what it takes to get into medical school over their mental health 

COPING STRATEGIES

  • Only do what you’re passionate about
  • Get exercise 
  • Talk to a mentor
  • Let yourself rest and recharge
  • Reach out for help
  • Socialize 

What can we do?

  • Educate and spread awareness beginning in the earliest stages of physician training
  • Address stigma and changing attitudes towards mental health
  • Foster a medical community that facilitates a safe space for individuals to seek help
  • Reach out to those that might be showing signs of depression or burnout