(Canadian Press) — A majority of the country’s doctors report having good mental health overall, but a significant proportion report experiencing burnout, depression and even thoughts of suicide, a survey by the Canadian Medical Association suggests.
Results of the national online survey completed by 2,547 physicians and 400 medical residents found reported rates of burnout and depression were higher among residents than practising physicians and more prevalent among female doctors than their male counterparts.
“Poor physician health not only affects physicians individually, but studies have shown it can have an impact on patient care,” said CMA president Dr. Gigi Osler, a Winnipeg ear, nose and throat surgeon.
While 82 per cent of physicians and residents indicated they had high resilience, more than one in four reported elevated levels of burnout and one in three screened positive for depression, the report released Wednesday found. (…)