According to the ‘I Cry, but No One Cares’: Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023, more than half of physicians reported feeling burned out this year, and nearly 1 in 4 doctors reported feeling depressed — the highest percentages in 5 years.
Physicians are trained early on to sacrifice their own self-care and emotional needs to care for patients. Physicians are often ashamed or embarrassed to admit they may be dealing with depression because they see it as a weakness. Also, physicians fear losing their medical licenses because of mental health questions on credentialing and licensure applications.
Other barriers to receiving help for depression include lack of awareness or availability of support; concern about the confidentiality of treatment; negative career implications; and the lack of time to receive help while practicing clinical medicine.
The mental health needs of physicians have been ignored for far too long.
I’ve pulled together highlights of the report in this article, but I also encourage you to read the full Medscape article and view the accompanying slideshow.
“I’m frequently in a bad mood, and I don’t feel like doing anything or going anywhere.”
Important Burnout Statistics
53% of physicians surveyed report being burned out
23% of physicians surveyed report being depressed
Of those who said they were burned out:
- 32% said their burnout lasted for at least 13 months
- 30% said it lasted for more than 2 years
- 63% are female
- 46% are male
- 43% said that burnout has a strong/severe impact on their lives
- 35% said that burnout has a moderate impact on their lives
Factors that led to burnout:
- 61% too many bureaucratic tasks
- 38% co-workers treated them with a lack of respect.
- 37% too many work hours
- 34% Insufficient compensation
- 31% Lack of control/autonomy
Other burnout factors mentioned by doctors:
- Office work – answering messages, phone calls, paperwork, etc.
- Being on call constantly
- Staff shortages
- Poor leadership
- Alternating day and night shifts, which leads to sleep deprivation
- Insurance companies tell doctors how to practice medicine and control what patients can and can’t do
“I’ve become a negative person, which I didn’t use to be.”
42% said that Covid somewhat impacted their work-life happiness
37% said that Covid significantly impacted their work-life happiness
And, of course, burnout affects the personal lives of doctors. 65% said that burnout harmed their personal relationships.
Burnout and Depression
Although burnout and depression are not the same conditions, burnout can contribute to depression.
“I isolate more and feel too fatigued to have an active social life.”
Of the doctors who reported being depressed:
- 64% said that job burnout was the top reason for their depression
- 43% cited world events
- 30% said being a physician contributed to their depression
Seeking Professional Help for Burnout or Depression
Only 13% of doctors have sought professional help- 39% have not sought help and would never consider seeking help
- 47% have not sought help but would consider it
When asked why they have not sought out help for burnout or depression, doctors answered:
- 51% Depression says something negative about me
- 42% I worry that people will think less of my professional abilities
- 41% I fear that the medical board or my employer will find out
- 41% I worry that people will think less of me
- 26% I see depression as a weakness
Many doctors are in a no-win situation. They are in a system where burnout is likely to occur but have little control over the factors that would improve their well-being. Physicians attempt to ameliorate burnout by exercising, talking with their family and friends, prioritizing sleep, etc. These personal adjustments are often helpful, but a systemic problem cannot be solved by individual modifications. And as shown above, most doctors are hesitant to get professional help when they need it for complicated reasons, including that they are afraid of losing their job.
“Only a sociopath could practice as an employee of a large health system and not be burned out. Anyone who cares about patients is doomed to be burned out.”
Publications Cited/More Information:
More Physicians Are Experiencing Burnout and Depression
‘I Cry but No One Cares’: Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023
The quotes spread throughout this article are from doctors who were surveyed.