S2, EP4 Physician Suicide

Suicides have risen during the COVID pandemic.  Physician suicides are at an all time high. Now there are 300-400 suicides by physicians each year, equivalent to an entire medical school!  This is equivalent to approximately 3 airplane crashes a year, all MDs.  Female MDs commit suicide at 250% to 400% higher than females in other professions.  In general, males commit suicide 4x more than females.  But Female MD suicides are equal to Male MD suicides.  What are the stressors for MDs during the COVID era: isolation, stress, watching patients die in front of you, inability to find time to relax during the COVID pandemic.  The mask mandates, the inability to travel and pursue the usual hobbies may have led to a decline in mental health.  Churches closed and were available on ZOOM only depriving families, physicians and their loved ones a place to contemplate, pray, grieve and worship.  There was a lack of face-to-face counseling as most counseling services went online.   The major risk factors in physician suicides are depression, bipolar depression, alcoholism and substance abuse.  Alcohol consumption during COVID rose significantly. Online alcohol sales rose by 262% in 2020-2021.  In-person  alcohol sales increased 54% during that same time period. Medical Students have a higher rate of depression than the general population, 15-30% higher, by some estimates. Residents-in-training suffer from depression and may not be able to talk about it to their supervisors. In addition, the medical culture expects stoicism from its trainees and staff.  Mental health problems are cloaked in shame.   Physicians have a higher "completion to attempt" ratio because of their knowledge of lethal drugs. In addition, the physicians are able to access these lethal drugs more easily than other professions.  The doctors also have the knowledge of how to successfully commit suicide because of their medical training. If anyone listening to the podcast has suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide Hotline 855-278-4204 for San Jose, CA.  Or text RENEW to 741741 to speak to a counselor.