Physicians have the highest suicide rate of any professionals and among all specialties, psychiatrists were among the second-most likely to have suicidal thoughts, according to a report from Medscape.
Medscape's "Doctors' Burden: Psychiatrist Suicide Report 2023," published March 15, polled 9,175 physicians in more than 29 specialties about their own suicidal thoughts and tendencies.
Here are five statistics from the report to know:
1. Twelve percent of psychiatrists reported having experienced suicidal thoughts, which is among the highest of any specialty other than otolaryngology (13 percent).
2. One percent of psychiatrists reported that they have attempted suicide.
3. Among psychiatrists, 11 percent of men and 12 percent of women reported having contemplated but not attempted suicide.
4. Twenty-five percent of psychiatrists reported they may not seek professional help for suicidal thoughts due to fear of their condition being reported to a medical board. Other reasons psychiatrists cited for not seeking mental health treatment included fear of their colleagues finding out (16 percent), insurance concerns (15 percent) and a lack of trust in mental health professionals (10 percent). Respondents could vote for more than one option on this topic.
5. Forty-one percent of psychiatrists indicated they do not believe a medical school or healthcare organization should be held responsible in the event of a student or provider suicide. Of the remaining respondents, 41 percent reported feeling unsure and 18 percent said organizations should be held accountable.