Diagnosing the Doctor

Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can be depressed. In fact, at one point in their lives most adults will deal with an episode of depression, including physicians! However, as this New York Times article points out, many doctors have a very difficult time seeking mental health care due to their fears about possible stigma or worries of how it could affect their career.

Residents are taught to “tough it out” and put their patient’s needs before their own. However, doctors are people first and deserve the same compassion that the rest of us enjoy.

If you are a physician struggling with depression or another mental health diagnosis, talk to a colleague, help is out there!