What's the mental health of our mental health providers?

Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. physicians have suicidal thoughts, while psychiatrists fare even worse, according to Medscape's ''Physician Burnout Report" published March 3.

Despite being trained to help treat mental health conditions, many said they have not and would not consider seeking professional help to deal with burnout. Among all physicians with depression, 42 percent said they did not seek professional help because they did not want to risk disclosure to their medical board.

Here are 8 things to know from Medscape's survey of 9,175 physicians that informed multiple recent reports:

1. Nine percent of physicians reported suicidal thoughts, and one percent reported attempting suicide. The specialties with the highest reporting of physician suicidal thoughts are also those with the greatest physician shortages.

2. Psychiatry is tied for second-highest incidence of suicidal thoughts among all specialties, with 12 percent of the field having reported suicidal thoughts.

3. Fourteen percent of psychiatrists said they have sought professional help to deal with burnout, 50 percent said they have not sought professional help but would consider using it and 36 percent said they have not and would not consider using it. 

4. Forty-two percent of physicians with depression said they did not seek professional help because they did not want to risk disclosure to their medical board, up 110 percent from 2021. 

5. Only 58 percent of psychiatrists said they were happy outside of work, compared to 82 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Psychiatry is the 17th-happiest specialty — it previously ranked 22nd.

7. Fifty-two percent of psychiatrists would take a pay cut for a better work-life balance.

8. Thirty-three percent of hospital physicians said they always or most of the time look after their own health and wellness, with 46 percent saying sometimes and 22 percent saying rarely or never.

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