Depression among physicians and other healthcare providers is a major contributor to burnout and a lack of a feeling of well-being. Physicians are poor at recognizing depression in themselves and are extremely reluctant to seek treatment. There is a strong need to feel healthy in order to be seen as being able to care for others; increasing the myth of invulnerability. Others avoid getting help because of the perceived stigma or the fear of jeopardizing their license to practice. As a consequence, more than four hundred physicians commit suicide each year and the numbers are rising. The lifetime prevalence of depression among physicians is 13 percent in men and 20 percent in women. A recent survey showed that 1 in 16 physicians had experienced suicidal ideation in the past 12 months, but only 26 percent sought psychiatric or psychologic help. Furthermore, only 1 in 3 physicians have no regular source of medical care.
Being a good physician means also being a good provider for yourselves. Practicing medicine in these challenging times means that unless you are caring for yourself, it can be onerous taking care of others. Attached is a commonly used, self-administered screening tool for depression. When you have a moment, open up the attachment below and take the test and score it using the criteria that accompanies the tool. If you are in the range of scores that indicate that you may be depressed, consider seeking help. Depression is treatable with medication, psychotherapy or in combination.
If you would like to discuss the results of your PHQ-9 and if you are an attending, please feel free to call Dr. Harold Pass at (631) 444-6980 or if you are a resident or fellow, contact Dr. Marsha Karant (631) 632-5877 for a confidential consultation. You can also call your primary care provider for a referral to a psychiatrist or a psychologist.