Study: Physicians Have Higher Than Average Suicide Rates
DETROIT (WWJ) - Doctors and suicide. A University of Michigan study shows what's behind the higher than average numbers.
According to the study, job stress and mental health problems contribute to the higher rates of physician suicide, even though doctors have more access to mental health treatment.
Lead author of the study, Katherine Gold says that's because many doctors worry about confidentiality when it comes to seeking help, and how it can affect their jobs.
Gold says they also looked at suicide methods for doctors with number one being firearms, and number two: overdose.
"Doctors are very familiar with medications and they understand what type of dosage and what kind of medication they'd need to be lethal,"said Gold."They know what they are doing."
Gold says as for job stress doctors work long hours, and many feel like they are held to very high standards.
