Female doctor suicide risk 76% higher than general population

The rate of suicide among doctors globally is decreasing over time, according to new research, but remains significantly higher for females compared to the general population.
 
The analysis pulled together 39 studies, dating back to 1935, from 20 countries to gauge the suicide rates of doctors.
 
It found that while there is no overall increase in risk for male doctors when compared to the general population, it is 76% higher for female doctors across all the studies.
 
For the 10 most recent studies, it shows the overall rates have been declining, but for female doctors it is still 24% higher.
 
 RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins says she is saddened but not surprised by the figures.
 
‘It demonstrates that we have a lot more work to do to support all doctors, especially our female doctors,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘It’s an old story and an ongoing one, but it’s actually really sad that things haven’t been improving for women.’
 
The study states physicians are one of several occupational groups that have long been linked to a higher risk of death by suicide.
 
‘The medical community has a longstanding and often conflicted history in addressing this issue,’ it says.
 
Although the researchers found the number of deaths is going down worldwide, the authors recognise this is not consistent across the board for countries – particularly in Australia.
 
‘The decreasing trend in suicide risk in physicians is not a universal phenomenon,’ they state.
 
‘An Australian study found a substantial increase in suicide risk for female physicians, which doubled between 2001 and 2017.’
 
The researchers suggest, in a linked editorial, that while doctors share risk factors with their non-medical peers, they face additional risks ‘such as burnout and barriers to accessing timely help for poor mental health’.
 
‘The recent COVID-19 pandemic has put additional strain on the mental health of physicians, potentially exacerbating risk factors for suicide such as depression and substance use,’ they write.
 
‘A systematic review on mental illness in physicians concluded that a coordinated range of mental health initiatives needs to be implemented at the individual and organisational level to create workplaces that support their mental health.’
 
Dr Higgins says female doctors often juggle much broader roles on top of their medical career, such as looking after children or being a carer to a family member.
 
‘The cognitive load of caring means also being responsible, often for managing a household, the day-to-day activities of the family, as well as the medical work,’ she said.
 
The study also found the suicide rate ratio of male physicians was significantly raised, by 81%, in comparison to other professional groups with similar socioeconomic status.
 
Dr Higgins is now encouraging GPs to try and take a more caring approach to themselves in the wake of the tragic statistics.
 
‘There’s what we can do as individuals, and then what we can do within the system to reduce barriers for doctors being able to seek help quickly and easily,’ she said.
 
‘Within ourselves, it’s ensuring that we’re much kinder and gentler to ourselves and ensuring that we support and have supports around us, both professionally and personally.’
 
Dr Higgins says it’s important to ensure systemic things are set up to allow GPs to manage their various roles.
 
‘That means having paid parental leave, having holiday leave, having carers leave and domestic violence leave to be able to function as a person, first and foremost, and then also as a doctor,’ she said.
 
If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
 
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