Illinois State Medical Society

U.S. Physicians Have the Highest Suicide Rate of Any Profession; Help is Available!

Posted on: 12/16/2019

The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is

800-273-8255.

You can also text "ITSOK" to 741741.

Attention physicians: Your Job Is Not Worth Dying For.

This is the key message from the Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS) in a campaign to reach out to physicians who may be depressed or even suicidal.

According to new research reported by Medscape, physicians in the United States have the highest suicide rate of any profession.

Learn more by accessing IPS’ Suicide Prevention web page, which offers numerous resources including finding treatment and self-assessment tools.

If you are depressed, especially if you are suicidal, please reach out. Help is available.

There is a crisis taking place in the world of medicine

Between 300 and 400 physicians take their own lives each year.

According to new research, the suicide rate among physicians in the United States is more than twice that of the general population. Physicians commit suicide at even higher rates than those in the military.

Compared with the general population, suicide rates are 40% higher for male physicians and 130% higher for female physicians!

ISMS also offers an on-demand course, How Work-Life Balance Predicts Burnout; CME available.