[Suicide and suicide prevention for female and male physicians]

The medical profession represents one of the groups of people who are not reached by the present help system for suicidal behaviour. The suicide rate of male physicians is slightly higher than that of the general population, while that of their female colleagues is clearly higher. This tendency is most pronounced in female psychiatrists and anaesthetists. In addition to the usual preventive measures such as the treatment of depression and addiction, the necessity of a qualified, professional treatment especially for doctors must be recognized because there is often a penchant for ineffective self-treatment. The symptoms are played down and even in acute crisis situations the urgently needed help is not enlisted.