Physician suicide is a hidden epidemic that has been affecting the medical community for years. Physicians are in a unique position where they are responsible for the well-being of their patients while also dealing with their own personal and work-related stresses. This leads to a higher risk of Depression, Anxiety, and suicide for physicians compared to the general population.

Physicians face a great deal of pressure as they work long hours, handle a high volume of patients, and deal with complex medical cases. In addition to these stressors, physicians are also expected to maintain a high level of professional conduct, provide outstanding patient care, and manage their personal lives. These expectations, when combined with feelings of isolation and burnout, can lead to physician suicide.

The medical community has only recently started to address this issue. It has been suggested that physician suicide is more of an occupational hazard than a health problem, and therefore requires an evidence-based, comprehensive approach. It is essential to acknowledge the problem and provide support to both physicians and medical professionals.

Originally Published on https://www.theworthyphysician.com/blog

Sapna Shah-Haque Internal Medicine Physician

Dr. Sapna Shah-Haque, MD is a board certified Internal Medicine physician. She was born and raised in Kansas, and attended medical school at the University of Kansas [KU] School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at KU-Wichita as well. After experiencing burnout herself, and watching other physician colleagues burn out, it became a passion of hers to look into different aspects of burnout. While the system does need to change, as it is broken, this podcast is a way to reach physicians and possibly shed light on what is not an isolated situation.