Nearly six in 10 physicians said they experienced inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness, or anxiety over the past year, a rate consistent with 2021 and 2022, according to The State of America’s Physicians report from the Physicians Foundation.
Here are seven more things to know:
1. Nearly half of physicians (46%) reported withdrawing from family, friends, or co-workers, a significant increase from last year.
2. More than one-third (34%) said they have felt hopeless or that they lacked a sense of purpose.
3. Over half (55%) reported experiencing debilitating levels of stress.
4. While a majority still reported frequent burnout, the share fell notably this year, from 60% to 54%.
5. About 73% of physicians said stigma around seeking mental health care remains in the profession, though this is lower than the around 80% reported in the prior three years.
6. Forty percent of female physicians reported checking in on a colleague they suspected was experiencing mental health distress, compared with just 25% of male physicians.
7. Thirty-eight percent said they, or a colleague they know, have avoided seeking mental health care due to concerns about questions on medical licensure, credentialing or insurance applications.
