Today, September 17th, Collier County Medical Society (CCMS) honors National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (NPSA Day) to help shift the healthcare system from one where physicians think burnout, depression, or suicidal thoughts are something they must overcome by themselves, to one where they see the support system around them. As a NPSA Day Supporting Organization, CCMS is taking action to support physician mental health and wellbeing through its Physician Wellness Program and by providing resources and opportunities for physicians to connect and seek support.
Physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. More than half of physicians know a physician who has either considered, attempted, or died by suicide in their career, and it is estimated that a million Americans lose their physician to suicide each year.
While there are some signs of improvement, the overall state of wellbeing remains low, with residents and medical students reporting an even lower state of wellbeing.
- A majority (54%) of physicians still report they often have feelings of burnout, compared to four in ten before the pandemic in 2018.
- Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) physicians have experienced inappropriate feelings of anger, fearfulness, or anxiety.
- More than one-third (34%) of physicians have felt hopeless or that they have no purpose.
These feelings can lead to burnout and, when left untreated, can cause more cases of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and lead to suicidal thoughts for physicians, directly impacting physician suicide rates.
However, physicians, residents, and students have identified solutions they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Now is the time to get mental health resources in the hands of current and future physicians, to remove intrusive mental health questions from licensing and credentialing applications, and to take action to create a culture of wellbeing in medical schools, residency programs, and workplaces.
CCMS provides confidential, cost-free psychological services to CCMS physician members through its Physician Wellness Program. The program provides physicians with a safe place to address personal and professional challenges, including stress, trauma, work-life balance, and other concerns. CCMS also continues to provide educational programs, resources, and opportunities that support physician wellbeing and strengthen connections within the medical community.
“Physician wellbeing is a critical aspect of the health of our medical community,” said Dr. Glenn Groat, CCMS Board President. “CCMS is committed to making resources available to physicians and reminding them that they do not have to navigate these challenges alone.”
For more information about actions that you can take to prevent physician suicide, as well as to access resources, visit NPSADay.org.
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About National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (#NPSADay) is a reminder and call to action. It’s a time to talk – and to act – so physicians’ struggles don’t become mental health emergencies. Prevention begins with learning the signs, starting the conversations, removing intrusive mental health questions and sharing the resources that can help those in distress seek mental health care. National Physician Suicide Awareness Day is an annual event that takes place on September 17, with a mission to break down the culture of silence around physician mental health. Learn more at NPSADay.org.