What We Can Learn From the Increasing Physician Suicides and Burnout

I am a physician. I was married to a physician. I attempted suicide twice. My former husband lost his life through suicide.

So, I think I can say I know what I am talking about.

I am also reading Medscape and other publications directed at medical professionals.

There have been many reports about healthcare worker and physician burnout and physician suicide.

There are many explanations, and many attempts to help.

A deep mistrust of the consequences of revealing their own weakness or needs, especially when it comes to mental health or addictions, has led to many physicians keeping it all to themselves and trying to help themselves as best as they can.

Access to official mental health resources for healthcare workers has the same limitations since there is (rightfully so) a deep distrust of all official authorities.

When I talk confidentially and online to other physicians (they know that, since I am working as a coach, I do not have to disclose any information to anyone unless they consent or it is required by a court) they often reveal suicidal thoughts and ideation, which inexperienced colleagues or mental health workers may confuse with actual threat and imminent danger and may report to the detriment of the physician.

I know how to deal with this - as an older lady with a chock of life experience and additional training.

But in my own journey, I experienced similar discrimination.

My former husband’s career had been destroyed by the medical system (then in Germany), which strangulated him first before he did it to himself.

My career had been impacted to the point of me nearly committing suicide - by the loss of my passion - to help people achieve optimal health.?

Like many good doctors and physicians, I entered this profession with great intentions.

The intention was to learn everything I could to help relieve suffering.

During medical school, residency, and then entering practice I discovered more and more the business that modern “sick care” (not really health care) is.?

It disillusioned me and created a chasm between what I saw in the healthcare system and my value system and my deepest beliefs about humanity.

After immigrating to Canada in 1997, trying to reconnect with the system and working as a physician in my chosen country - but encountering roadblock after barrier and receiving half-truths instead of viable support, I fell into a deep hole of depression.

This led to a hiatus of over 10 years - due in large part to being (over-) medicated with modern pharmaceuticals to “help me”, but in reality made an un-thinking and un-emotional zombie, feeling nothing but tired and listless.

At one point, I decided that I didn’t want to live this way.

I researched what others had experienced and dug even deeper into alternative medicine and holistic care as I had done before - even as a German-trained ND and MD.

It has always baffled me and still surprises me how much further apart conventional medicine and alternative care options are in North America than in most of the rest of the world.

The combined dominance of the pharmaceutical industry and the agriculture and food giants have shaped North America to a point where they contribute much to sickness in the physical, mental, spiritual, social, and financial dimensions.

I feel sad that ordinary people with limited financial resources can no longer afford a great individualized holistic healthcare approach that does not focus on treating meaningless metrics like “days of life”, but focus on what matters most to the individual.

Modern medicine has brought us many great things - like anesthesia for life-saving surgeries, better diagnostics, antibiotics to treat common infections, and such - but it also has proliferated to such an extent that it lives to nourish itself instead of helping relieve the suffering of the individual - and helping them live a life that is meaningful and fulfilled instead of just - a long one…

I am calling on the young people of this world, the younger generation of healthcare workers, physicians, and alternative practitioners, to join forces and create a better “system” of true care - driven by the needs of the suffering individual, not the shareholders of any corporate entity.

If you are a healthcare worker and would like to chat with me confidentially via Zoom, please click this link and book a time on my calendar: https://calendly.com/docchristine/chat ?- or message me here on LinkedIn.?

I am here to help, not (just) to make money.

And if you are in a position where you don’t feel good and need help immediately, please do so. Get help.

I know that as healthcare providers we know very well how to succeed in killing ourselves. It seems tempting sometimes.

But believe me, I know this from my own experience and from many others I talked to:

“If you are in the midst of darkness, don’t give up! There is a light at the end of the tunnel for you, too!” (and it is not a freight train)

Maybe my telling my story in one of my first public speeches will encourage you to get the right help for you:?