Linda Lang, MD, is a board certified psychiatrist and serves as the Chairperson and President of Inova Behavioral Health Services.
When we’re sick or injured, we turn to our doctors. We trust that they’ll always be there to help us, treat us with compassion, and support us through our dark times. But what happens if it’s our doctors who are struggling?
Physicians are at higher risk of suicide than the average person, according to the American Medical Association. More than 300 doctors die each year by suicide. It’s the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34 in the United States and the twelfth leading cause of death overall, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Among physicians, women are more likely to die by suicide than men are.
In 2021, the Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act became law. Named for an ER physician who took her life during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a death to which burnout contributed, the law promotes mental health in healthcare workers by requiring hospitals to establish programs to address frontline workers’ mental health needs.
To decrease these preventable deaths, we must take concrete steps to increase awareness of suicide among doctors and decrease the incidence of burnout among physicians (and other healthcare workers) that contributes to it.
Burnout is a big contributor to depression and suicidality among physicians. They spend an immense amount of time in medical school, residency, and fellowship. There’s often a profound exhaustion, but they can’t take a break because it impacts their fellow colleagues who are equally exhausted. They often have less time for coping mechanisms that would help them feel better, like exercise, hobbies, or time with family.
Overall, we need a culture shift in healthcare, so we can talk about and prioritize mental health and wellness. Without mental health and wellness, where do we go next? It’s absolutely critical, because it’s the foundation of our ability as physicians to help our patients.
Together, we can work toward a world where physicians are not at high risk of suicide.
If you are dealing with feelings of depression, anxiety or chronic stress and if you do not have a primary care physician, we welcome you to make an appointment with a provider at any of our Primary Care locations. Or you can also contact a mental health professional can help you to develop the tools to help improve your mental wellbeing.
To access resources specific to physicians, click here, as well as, visit https://drlornabreen.org.
To learn more about Inova Behavioral Health Services, call 571-623-3500.
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Great article and Information on such an important topic Dr. Lang. It is so important to take care of health care workers; especially our own.