Each year, between 300 and 400 physicians in the United States die by suicide. Female physicians are 250 to 400 percent more likely than women in other professions to die by suicide, and among male physicians, death by suicide is 70 percent more likely compared to men in other professions. Medical students have rates of depression 15 to 30 times higher than the general population.

Physicians seek care for depression and other mental illnesses at lower rates than the general public, in part for fear of losing the privilege to practice, as well as losing stature and respect.

If your hospital has created a safe environment for physicians struggling with depression and other mood disorders to seek help, how have they done it? If they haven't, what could they be doing differently?

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Each year, between 300 and 400 physicians in the United States die by suicide, and physicians seek care for depression and other mood disorders at lower rates than the general public.