Break the Silence: Physician Suicide in the Time of COVID-19.
Amanda M Kingston
Abstract
The rates of physician burnout, depression, and suicide have been on the rise over the past 50 years. Despite increased attention to these topics over the past decade these numbers have remained steady. In the age of SARS-Cov-2 and COVID-19 these numbers are predicted to show a steep increase due to the increased work demands, social isolation, decreased self-care, and increased exposure to emotionally traumatic events at work and home. The potential solutions to these issues generally remain the same; however, we are now in an environment with even more barriers to those solutions.
Topics & Concepts
BurnoutCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Social isolation2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSilenceIsolation (microbiology)Suicide ratesSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Depression (economics)Suicide preventionPsychologyMedicinePoison controlMedical emergencyPsychiatryClinical psychologyVirologyOutbreakAestheticsMicrobiologyPhilosophyBiologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)MacroeconomicsPathologyDiseaseEconomicsHealthcare professionals’ stress and burnoutDiversity and Career in MedicinePosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research