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Special report: suicidal ideation among American surgeons.
Tait D Shanafelt1, Charles M Balch, Lotte Dyrbye
1Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. shanafelt.tait@mayo.edu
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|January 19, 2011
Summary
Suicidal ideation (SI) affects 6.3% of surgeons, particularly older ones, with few seeking help due to licensing fears. Burnout and depression significantly increase SI risk.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Surgical professional well-being
- Mental health in medicine
Background:
- Suicide is a significant cause of death among US physicians.
- The prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and mental health resource utilization among surgeons remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of SI among surgeons.
- To examine surgeons' use of mental health resources.
- To identify factors associated with SI in this population.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous cross-sectional survey was distributed to American College of Surgeons members in June 2008.
- The survey included validated instruments for SI, depression screening, burnout, and quality of life assessments.
Main Results:
- 6.3% of 7905 surveyed surgeons reported SI in the past 12 months.
- SI was more prevalent in surgeons aged 45+ compared to the general population.
- Only 26% of surgeons with SI sought help, with 60% citing fear of medical license impact.
- SI was strongly associated with burnout and depression symptoms.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of surgeons experience SI annually, yet help-seeking remains low.
- Fear of professional repercussions is a major barrier to mental health support.
- Addressing burnout and depression is crucial for mitigating SI among surgeons.
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