Abstract

MINGOTE ADAN, José Carlos et al. Suicide prevention in doctors. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2013, vol.59, n.231, pp.176-204. ISSN 1989-7790.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0465-546X2013000200002.

The rate of suicide in physicians is known to be higher than that of the general public. The health of doctors has always received scant attention from their colleagues, in spite of considerable and increasing evidence that morbidity and mortality are high in the profession. Caring for others imposes considerable strains on the careers. The stress by clinical uncertainty and the fear of failure are important parts of the medical ethos. It is recognized that those who do care for others often have great difficulty in asking for, and receiving, care for themselves. Suicide rates for doctors in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries are higher than general population and other professions. The suicide rate of male physicians is slightly higher than that of the general population, while that of their female colleagues is clearly higher. This tendency is most pronounced in female psychiatrist and anesthetists. Doctors have specific needs for health care by suffer abnormally high levels of alcoholism, drug dependence, marital breakdown, mental illness and suicide. The self-medication is common among doctors, particularly sleeping tablets, antidepressants and opiate analgesics. Many of the difficulties are related to stress, high responsibility and insufficient time to do the work and to live reconciling demands between work and family. Many doctors show an increased impediment for discuss their problems with colleagues, and treat themselves, which is notoriously hazardous. Doctors' easy access to drug makes drug abuse a potential occupational hazard for men and women.

Keywords : The health of doctors; work organization; physicians; depression; addictions; suicide risk.

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