Physician Suicide Rates vs. the General Population: A Stark Comparison

How Suicide Trends Differ Between Men and Women in Medicine

A recent study by Hirsh Makhija, Sidney Zisook, and their team published in JAMA Psychiatry examined suicide trends among physicians in the United States compared to non-physicians, with a focus on gender-based differences. Their analysis utilized data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), spanning January 2017 to December 2021 and covering 30 states and Washington, DC. The dataset included timeframes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Findings

From 2017 to 2021, researchers identified 448 physician suicides (354 men and 94 women) and 97,467 suicides among non-physicians (76,697 men and 20,770 women) with complete data. On average, physicians who died by suicide were 60 years old, compared to 51 years among non-physicians.

Consistent with broader population trends, male physicians had a higher suicide rate than their female counterparts. Specifically, the suicide rate was 26.38 per 100,000 person-years for male physicians and 12.12 per 100,000 person-years for female physicians. However, male physicians had a lower suicide rate than male non-physicians (31.41 per 100,000), while female physicians had a significantly higher suicide rate than female non-physicians (7.94 per 100,000).

Contrary to concerns raised during the COVID-19 pandemic about physician well-being, suicide rates among physicians were actually higher in the pre-pandemic years than during the pandemic period.

Physicians who died by suicide were more likely than non-physicians to have documented histories of depressed mood, legal problems, work-related stress, and mental health diagnoses. They were less likely to have reported family issues or substance use, though the latter may be underreported given inconsistencies in toxicology findings.

Reflections and Implications

This study reveals a stark contrast in suicide trends between male and female physicians. While male physicians had lower suicide rates than their non-physician peers, female physicians had significantly higher rates than non-physician women. Yet, within the physician population, men continued to show higher suicide rates than women, reflecting broader societal patterns.

In an accompanying editorial, Elena Frank, Srijan Sen, and Constance Guille highlighted possible contributing factors to the elevated suicide risk among women physicians. These include systemic issues like sexual harassment, unequal pay and promotion opportunities, conflicts between work and family responsibilities, and challenges with childcare. Stigma surrounding mental health care in the medical profession may also prevent physicians from seeking help.

Since most suicides are linked to mental health conditions, especially depression and substance use, psychosocial stressors likely play a key role. Physician burnout and dissatisfaction are widespread, but reforms are underway. Medical educators are working to realign the profession with its core values of patient care and scientific contribution to help restore a sense of purpose.

Ultimately, prioritizing physician well-being, addressing gender disparities, and reducing stigma around mental health support are essential steps toward reducing suicide risk in the medical community.