Thanks to social media, influencers and celebrities openly talking about mental health, our society is now collectively accepting mental health as an issue. But turns out, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Amongst the most burned out professions right now, doctors probably rise on top. And that is an incredibly bad thing. While medical practitioners and students need to be geared up to treat patients with mental health issues, they’re probably busy handling issues of their own.
The Canadian Medical Association has demonstrated an 'elevated burnout and susceptibility to mental health problems' in the medical professions, especially the resident ones. According to a report in the Western Gazette, the association has found that one-third of the medical professionals surveyed were experiencing burnout or depression. The number surveyed was 2547 physicians and 400 resident doctors.
It’s saddening to know that 19% of doctors have also contemplated suicide at least once in their lives and 8% had done this in the last 12 months itself.
The most vulnerable years for medical practitioners is their first five years of practice. Doctors have frequently complained about the workload and nothing seems to be done for it.
The medical professionals believe that a change in the structure of jobs and management can help them positively. Many specialties do not have vacancies, even when there is a requirement which leads to addition in the stress of the working doctors. Doctors also realise that the problem is slightly cultural as well. People tend to think it is only them who is under pressure, which leads to the development of antagonism among them.
