Doctors have made remarkable progress in tackling physical illnesses, particularly those linked to smoking such as cancer and heart disease showing a 40–60% decline in prevalence among physicians over the past four decades. Medical training emphasizes endurance, emotional resilience, and unwavering patient focus, teaching doctors to detach from discomfort and prioritize care over self. Yet, behind this resilience lies a profession fraught with intense pressure. Long working hours, unpredictable schedules, litigation anxiety, and patient demands create an environment ripe for burnout and psychological strain.
Research, including the BMA’s Doctors’ Health Matters, reveals that doctors experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and mental distress than most other professions. Ironically, those trained to heal are often the least likely to seek help for their own mental health. Young…
