Veterinarians and dentist are the most suicidal in UK and USA.Anesthethesia is the most suicide prone medical speciality.Psychiatrist are the most depression prone doctors . Surgeons face maximum family problems and divorces..Physicians and nurses face maximum burrnout and compassion fatigue..Statistics are not clear for nursing professionals athough they are the ones who struggle maximum.They say medicine is only for the lion hearted and brave,but nobody dares to see the human emotions behind those years of struggle which Healthcare professional silently face.
It looks like a noble profession to others from outside but there is a lot of dirty secrets and pain behind years of toiling to earn those scrubs,white coats, stethoscopes,professional skills,drug prescription,UG,PG degrees,job,clinical setup,professor posts in departments..Intense competition to master multiple subjects right from undergraduate days,faculty intolerance,ego, criticisms,professional jealousy,financial debts to pursue a degree.After studies comes the monstrous hours of work during internship and residency deprived of food,sleep,pay.In addition targets imposed by corporate hospital managements over doctors to improve their Hospital. No time for family,life,kids,parents,spouse,friends...In the midst of all this,there is a pressure to display a superhero image infront of patients thus numbing their own feelings.A doctor taking treatment for their emotional plight,psychiatric trouble will be stigmatised by the society,so they conceal their emotion..Doctors taking hippocratic oath to save patients have started taking their own lives ..Doctors are one of the most common suicide prone professionals in the world and Medical mistake is the 3rd most common cause of death of patients by the already overworked doctors.
.June 1 is the day for campaigning of mental well being and healthcare of all healthcare professionals started by cardiologist Dr Geoff Toogood with the Australian medical council. .It is an idea spreading, conversation starting and culture changing day.This day is for doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, speech pathologists, audiologists, respiratory therapists, anaesthesia techs, paramedics, medical students, veterinarians and all other specialties that work in the health care industry for patients.The society often places high expectation over healthcare professionals to be faultless and sees them equal to god.But in reality ,they are mortal human beings who are overburdened by the high pressured healthcare industry,low pay,long working hours.Most of them are silent victims of depression,anxiety, burnout, compassion fatigue and fear to seek treatment for their problems due to stigma as the society shuns medicos and brands them unfit.
All are advised to wear odd socs on this day,which may sound too idealistic to the point of cynicism for many.Even i felt it a bit awkward wearing odd coloured socs.But it is a topic that is very close to my heart being an medical student with most of my family members as doctors.Also since present day doctors are more stressed out in this era of nuclear family,this event has struck the chords and touched the hearts of healthcare professionals.When we talk about this ,we end the stigma and bring light and create acceptance and support.It is done to-
*To Remember the many Health Professionals who suffer from stress, psychiatric problem,died by suicide or in the line of duty.
*To Raise awareness of mental health issues among Health Professionals
*To Reshape the culture of the Health Care Industry with Hope and Humanity, so that health care workers are given the space to care for each other.
It's a highly competitive field where the most intelligent,fittest with good adversity and emotional quotient survives leaving others getting lost in the labyrinth of competition becoming dumb.However smart,intelligent & caring you are,once you loose mental strength ,it affects your cognition, affecting your day to day activities. .So Let us all care and help each other in tough times to maintain the nobility of Medical profession.The fight for maintaining the sanctity of this profession must continue.
