Despite doctors being one of the groups which treat mental health disorders, the prevalence of mental health disorders in them itself is increasing day by day with Anxiety, Depression and Burnout being the major contributors.
The cause of this increasing prevalence is because of long working hours (sometimes being more then 70hrs per week), lack of adequate sleep, toxicity and high-pressure conditions in the work environment and not taking proper treatment due to the stigma associated with it.
All these factors lead to symptoms like irritability, sad mood, frequent anger outburst, decrease or increase in sleep more than usual, decrease or increase in appetite, hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, autonomic symptoms, suicidal ideations and increased suicide rates.
This can be reduced by increasing awareness and imparting knowledge about mental health disorders, reducing the stigma associated with it, encouraging and motivating peers, early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Doctors often dismiss their own mental health issues for the sake of patients getting proper care.
And the low amount of doctors working in a hospital leads to double shifts and imbalance in the mental health
What needs to change is increase in doctors at a hospital .
So that one can sleep soundly without having to worry about taking care of patients health bcoz there will be someone else to do so
Daily seeing the patients in pain and desperation can also effect the mental health of doctors. Salute to the ones who go through it and still smile and encourage the patients.
Depression during long shifts, anxiety during follow ups , panic during exam, and constant burnout is something that no one talks about that doctors has …
Mental health of people who saves mental health of others is always neglected
A doctor really need to have his/her own specific routine apart from the work life. Besides, having a strong and supportive social circle at the workplace is essential too, as most of the times they spend their time being there. Also, adopting a strong personality gradually building emotional intelligence can be of big help. One can also join a spiritual community or a sports related community or any community related to a personal hobby, as that can give a platform for the emotional release on a day-to-day basis and can allow the person to bond with people from other areas too, where they are not doing the regular medical discussions and their minds get a breathing space. Moreover, regular therapy sessions based upon the requirement can be taken virtually and also a travel/trip (not work-related) should be made a priority in a year, as travel really broadens the mindset, allows healing, teaches adapatibility and also one experience life on a broader scale as it allows some introspection much away from the work.
The mental and physical exhaustion that comes with the medical profession is largely dismissed as struggles that are expected to be dealt with. It is good to raise awareness and empathize with their difficulties.