The medical practice has undergone numerous and important changes since its beginnings. In some way, doctors have experienced a reduction in their autonomy by the increase in administrative tasks and health care pressure. Classic studies from the United States, pioneering in longevity and morbidity/mortality and suicide on North American physicians, revealed that the suicide rate of female physicians was four times higher than that of white females over 25 years old. More recently, a 2020 study in the United States revealed that 23% of male and 22% of female physicians had developed suicidal ideation, while 1% of male doctors and 2% of female physicians attempted it (Medscape National Physician Burnout and Suicide Report 2020). Female physicians are more likely to be in their middle age. For male doctors, the suicide rate increases with age. Higher rates are blamed because of better medical knowledge to take their life, higher rate of depression in females in general, and demanding work-life balance being a female physician. If possible, read this article titled “Warning: Medical school may kill your child” by Dr. Wible on KevinMDcom. So next time you see your doctor, do ask them, “what’s up, doc? Or how are you doing?
Suicide among physicians: Major risk for women physicians