Is enough being done for the mental health of physicians?

Physician mental health struggles: ©Volha - stock.adobe.com

Burnout is a major problem for physicians, and in recent years, more research has been done that illustrates the size and scope of the problem. Now, researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the University of Michigan say that health systems and medical schools need to do more to address the ongoing crisis in physician well-being.

“This is really about the future of health care,” said Constance Guille, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at MUSC, in a statement. “We need to think about what we’re doing now in order to create the healthiest workforce moving forward.”

Guille co-authored the report published in the New England Journal of Medicine with Srijan Sen, M.D., Ph.D., the Eisenberg Professor of Depression and Neurosciences at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Key findings: The impact of workload

The authors draw on nearly two decades of research from the Intern Health Study, which has tracked the mental and physical health of over 28,000 physicians during their first year of post-medical school training. The study consistently identifies workload as the most significant factor influencing physician well-being.

“The fundamental problem is that we are asking too few physicians to do too much work,” said Sen.

Reforms over the past 15 years have reduced resident work hours, leading to notable improvements in their well-being. “Further reductions in workload and work hours are crucial for improving well-being, not just among residents, but across the entire physician population,” Sen said.

Interventions and policy recommendations

Beyond workload reduction, the authors advocate for several key policy changes to improve physician well-being, including:

- Policies that ensure timely, confidential, and accessible mental health care for physicians.

- Programs that support work-life balance, including improved parental and caregiving leave.

- Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by women and minority physicians, who often experience discrimination, harassment, and racism.

“Women and minorities need to be in the conversation about how we move forward,” Guille said. “Their perspective is critical in creating a healthier workplace and, in turn, better patient care.”

Progress and future directions

Some health care systems, including MUSC and the University of Michigan, have already begun implementing these strategies. Both institutions have introduced nonphysician team members to assist with tasks like electronic health record entry, alleviating some of the administrative burden on physicians. Additionally, chief well-being officers have been appointed to coordinate efforts to support the health care workforce.

Despite these positive steps, Guille and Sen emphasize that much more remains to be done. They call for a renewed focus on interventions that reduce workload, policies that support mental health, and efforts to eliminate systemic barriers, such as sexism and racism in medicine.

The authors also urge researchers to apply greater scientific rigor to the study of physician burnout and well-being. The next phase of research should focus on validating well-being assessments, improving intervention implementation, and developing targeted solutions for diverse groups of physicians.

“Our research on physicians in what is considered the most stressful year of a medical career can inform efforts to support physicians throughout their work lives,” said Sen. “This is critical, as our nation needs them more than ever.”