Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Our physicians and trainees are the first line of defense in caring for the health and well-being of patients. Often, however, our own wellness and that of our colleagues are put on the sidelines. This is impacting the health care workforce as physicians suffer in silence. When we discuss mental health and suicide, we think of patients, but sometimes fail to recognize that the very people who care for our health also face challenges in their own lives.
The number one cause of death in the U.S. among medical trainees is suicide. Meanwhile, male doctors have suicide rates as much as 40% higher than the general population, and female doctors up to 130% higher.
The demands of this line of work are significant, and physicians suffer from burnout, anxiety, depression and other forms of occupational distress that can be associated with suicide. One in five physicians plans to leave their current practice. One in three plans to reduce their hours. More recently, researchers found burnout, workload and anxiety or depression due to COVID-19 are some of the primary reasons for this trend.
Aside from the devastating toll physician suicide takes on friends and family members, this has significant reverberations on patient populations. Every time a physician dies by suicide, approximately 2,000 patients are impacted. Although Nevada is 32nd in population sizein the U.S., Nevada ranks 48th for the number of board-certified physicians per 100,000 people. This adds to additional workloads for physicians in Nevada due to the shortage of providers.
Doctors are exposed to high levels of personal and professional stress. They must make life-or-death decisions at work and are at risk of malpractice claims. Many struggle with marital conflict or issues at home because of work demands. Increasing oversight and regulation has also diminished physicians’ autonomy, which has been linked to decreased job satisfaction and burnout. Moreover, modern physicians are increasingly asked to interface with cumbersome electronic health records systems and stringent documentation requirements, which now frequently occupy more of their work hours than direct patient care.
More must be done to support the health of our providers and preserve access to health care for families and communities across the state. We must band together to support physicians and trainees.
The shortage of behavioral health providers impacts all Nevadans, including the health care workforce. Expanding access to behavioral health care and well-being initiatives can help reduce barriers. The State of Nevada has prioritized allocating funds to behavioral health programs for those in crisis through federal grants from the American Rescue Plan Act, but funding is set to expire in 2025. We need to continue to create sustainable funding sources for such programs and prioritize expanding and maintaining a behavioral health workforce.
Supporting independent autonomous organizations like the Nevada Physician Wellness Coalition also helps, as it ensures physicians can seek meaningful ways to engage where there is an environment of trust and safety. A recent $50,000 grant from Molina Healthcare of Nevada to the Nevada Physician Wellness Coalition has already helped contribute to these solutions by enhancing a peer support program and leadership program for hospital leaders. We encourage other private sector leaders to support programs and organizations that will improve the behavioral health landscape for the health care workforce.
Nearly 40% of physicians report they would be reluctant to seek formal medical care for treatment of a mental health condition because of fear of repercussions of their medical licensure. We need to remove this stigma, and repercussions associated with seeking treatment from physician licensing and credentialing.
We must continue to create access to peer-to-peer support when a physician is going through a difficult work or life event, help workplaces address work/life balance, patient demand, greater autonomy, reduced administrative burden and increased health care team support.
It’s critical that each of us, patients and the community, come together to care for our health caregivers with the compassion, understanding and kindness they deserve as fellow human beings. Caring for our health professionals will help preserve access to health care for families and communities across the state and ensure all Nevadans, including our health professionals, enjoy a healthy and happy life.
Neil Gokal, MD, FAAFP is the President of the Board of Directors for the Nevada Physician Wellness Coalition.
