National Doctor’s Day
By: Kayla kroesch, lmch-a
It takes four years of undergraduate work, four years of medical school, three to seven years of residency, and then possibly one to three years of fellowship. Doctors dedicate themselves to anywhere from fifteen to eighteen years of schooling to be able to dedicate themselves to the service of others, to place others’ well-being first, to respect those that seek their service, and to practice with good conscience and integrity. Doctors are an integral part of our society as they commit to providing lifesaving care to those in need. Which is why National Doctor’s Day was proposed by Eudora Brown Almond in 1933. Almond felt as though doctors deserve more recognition for the outstanding work they provided thus it was decided March 30th would be the designated day doctors are recognized for their work. It was recognized by congress in 1958 and then it became officially recognized as a national holiday in 1990. From that moment forward doctors all over the United States received recognition on a national level.
It is known that doctors work in high stress environments. They often have large caseloads, work long hours, witness excruciating events, experience verbal abuse, and are under a significant amount of pressure. When one is exposed to these kinds of stressors for extended periods of time, there tends to be a development of various mental health conditions. According to Ng et al. (2024) there are high rates of depression, anxiety, stress related disorders, suicidal ideation, and burnout reported by doctors whether they are in training or practicing. These researchers found that among doctors 29% report depressive symptoms, 24% report experiencing anxiety, 4-16% report being afflicted with post-traumatic disorder, and one in three experience burnout (Ng. et al., 2024). In an article written by Stacy Weiner (2023) they reported that the depression rate amongst doctors was 29% while the rate amongst other professions was 8%. The writer then noted that doctors die by suicide at twice the rate of the general population. Doctors
are significantly impacted by the stress and pressure of their occupation. While impacted they are still solely dedicated to providing others with the care they need. So how can we return the favor?
Returning care towards doctors can look like vocalizing your support to them. Letting them know you appreciate the efforts they have made to provide lifesaving care. It can look like holding space for them when they encounter difficult situations. It could be encouraging them to seek professional assistance to navigate mental health challenges. According to Haas (2023) while many doctors in the United States experience mental health challenges, they are hesitant to seek professional help. The writer indicated this is because they are concerned about “licensure complications, stigmatization, and a culture of perfectionism and independence” (Haas, 2023). We could start challenging the stigmatization surrounding a doctor seeking mental health services. It could also be challenging the culture of perfectionism and independence within the medical community. Overall, we can vocalize our support, hold space, be encouraging, and challenge the stereotyped nature of being a doctor.
If you are a doctor who is struggling with any of the mental health conditions above, do not hesitate to reach out for assistance. Be sure to engage in self-care practices that care for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. You are an integral part of our community, and we appreciate everything you have done to care for others. Let us care for you.
References
About national doctors day. National Doctors Day. (n.d.). https://nationaldoctorsday.org/about/ Haas, K. (2025, January 2). Mental health challenges among physicians in the United States. Ballard Brief. https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/mental-health-challenges-among physicians-in-the-united-states
Ng, I. K., Tan, B. C., Goo, S., & Al-Najjar, Z. (2024, January). Mental health stigma in the medical profession: Where do we go from here?. Clinical medicine (London, England). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11024831/#:~:text=Mental%20health%20cond itions%20are%20highly%20prevalent%20among%20physicians%2C%20with%20report edly,with%20post%2Dtraumatic%20stress%20disorder.&text=Moreover%2C%20burnou t%20occurs%20in%20more%20than%20one%20in%20three%20physicians.
Weiner, S. (2023, March 28). Out of the Shadows: Physicians share their mental health struggles. AAMC. https://www.aamc.org/news/out-shadows-physicians-share-their mental-health-struggles