The Stigma around the Mental Health of Physicians

I remember when I was a child, I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up. But not for the reasons a lot of other children would give. My imaginative mind had convinced me that doctors could never get sick. I also possessed the notion that I would be able to magically cure the people I cared about if only I was a doctor.

My childhood delusions got me thinking. Obviously, doctors can get sick and they can’t cure their patients with some type of magical touch. But do doctors prioritize their health first over their patients?

A more relevant question to today’s social climate: How has the global pandemic taken a mental toll on medical caregivers?

Recently, my mother was admitted to the hospital because she received a positive COVID-19 test and had serious preexisting lung issues. Thankfully, she is set to make a full recovery.

But what about the people who don’t?

After FaceTiming her one evening, she told me about the medical care providers that helped her everyday. One nurse told her, “You don’t even want to know what I’ve seen over the course of these nine months.” My mother said the pain in her eyes spoke volumes.

As COVID-19 issues keep escalating around the nation, analysts warn that for fear of destroying their credibility or ruining their careers, caregivers will neglect much-needed mental health care.

The Physicians Foundation’s 2020 Survey of America’s Physicians: COVID-19’s Impact on Physician Wellbeing finds that nearly 1 in 4 physicians know a physician who has committed suicide over their mental health regarding the pandemic. 58% of physicians report feeling exhausted and burnt out. 18% of physicians have increased their use of medications, alcohol, and illicit drugs as a result of the pandemic’s toll on their practice. Also, 50% of physicians have experienced increased anger outbursts, breakdowns, or anxiety.

According to a different study done by the American College of Emergency Physicians, 87% of emergency physicians report that they have been experiencing heightened stress levels, yet half of that number say they do not feel comfortable seeking mental health support or treatment.

The mental health of thousands of providers is affected by the deadly virus. Yet fear of losing work prospects, their colleagues’ respect, and even their right to practice medicine prevents many from pursuing the treatment they deserve.

Doctors report that the reservations they have for seeking treatment lie within fears of losing their credibility, privacy, and being accused of malpractice. They fear losing their license and their privilege to work in a hospital. And while doctors say that having care everywhere risks any discrimination, it can be especially troubling to seek support at work.

“A number of barriers come from a mindset that physicians are supposed to be superhuman. Instead, we should be setting professional norms that medicine is an emotionally demanding profession and that it’s common at times to need help.”Tait Shanafelt, MDChief wellness officer at Stanford Medicine

Sources:

https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/doctors-forgo-mental-health-care-during-pandemic-over-concerns-about-licensing-stigma