According to MedPage Today (7/5, Firth), “a thematic analysis of 200 physician deaths” revealed that “among physician suicides included in the National Violent Death Reporting System database from 2003 to 2018, six themes were found to precede such deaths, including inability to work due to physical health, substance use, mental health issues, relationship conflicts, legal problems, and increased financial stress, all leading to work-related stress.” Researchers then “suggested that suicide risk is associated with premature retirement due to health issues that affect employment.”
HealthDay (7/5, Munez) reports the study authors concluded that “in the short term,” physicians “need better access to primary care services, as well as help with scheduling challenges and concerns about confidentiality.” For “the long term, broader changes are needed to address workplace stress and poor physician self-care, the study said.” The findings were published online June 29 in the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.
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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)