Work-related burnout can affect anyone — including doctors, according to a recent survey from the Canadian Medical Association.
The national online survey completed by more than 2,500 physicians and 400 medical residents across Canada found that while 82 per cent of respondents claimed to have high resilience, as many as one in four have reported suffering burnout at one time or another, and one in three screened positive for depression.
19 per cent of those polled have even had suicidal thoughts.
Among the groups that tend to report higher levels of burnout were the medical residents, doctors in practice for more than 30 years, and female doctors.
"For us, as physicians, and for us at the Canadian Medical Association, we're paying attention to this survey," CMA president Dr. Gigi Osler told CJAD 800's Aaron Rand. "And it's worrisome, because we want to make sure our doctors are healthy and able to serve their patients."
Dr. Osler, a Winnipeg ear, nose and throat surgeon, suggests the high rates of resilience that are reported might have something to do with their work environments, and in some jurisdictions, adverse working conditions.
"I think we're seeing doctors are saying, 'well, I'm strong, I know I work in a demanding job, I'm handling it as best I can,'" she says. "To me, I think that means that's not the individual's problem or fault, but I think the issue runs deeper than that, and I think we need to look at causes or drivers from our workplaces and from our healthcare system."
Dr. Osler suggests medical personnel experience burnout in two ways — emotional, physical and mental exhaustion, and what's called depersonalization.
"Think of that as a detached, negative, cynical type of attitude," Dr. Osler says, pointing out that that that kind of attitude is common among those whose job it is to care for other people — including police and paramedics.
Dr. Osler says the problem isn't necessarily a new one, but she adds it's heartening that the conversation about mental health issues is happening — something that was never even broached two decades ago. "It's important to have these discussions to normalize it, because it helps to reduce the stigma about talking about the challenges that doctors face," she says.
Patients, too, can play a part in making things better. If you sense something's a little off with your doctor, Dr. Osler says, she doesn't see any harm with a simple "are you okay?"
"I know I appreciate it, because it means that they care about me. I'm primarily there to look after them, but I can tell you, doctors appreciate when people reach out and sincerely ask, 'is everything okay?'"