Fear of stigma or sanction keeps many doctors from revealing mental health issues, study finds
Part of the reason lies in concern that due to stigma, others may doubt their ability to keep up with a demanding profession. But there's another factor: Many states require physicians to report any mental diagnosis -- no matter how mild or treatable, or how far in the past -- to their state medical licensing board. This leads physicians to fear that seeking help for depression or anxiety could lead to restrictions on their medical license. In a survey answered by more than 2,100 female physicians who are also mothers, nearly half believed they had met the definition for a mental illness at least some time during their career, but had not sought treatment. Two-thirds reported that fear of stigma drove them to keep their worries quiet. One in three of the women who answered the survey said they'd been given a formal mental health diagnosis since medical school. Many thought they could manage their situation on their own, including writing their own prescriptions or payin...