Mental ill-health in doctors is a global phenomenon. Doctors experience more mental ill health and addiction than other professional groups.
The numbers in the UK are high. A recent survey of 600 doctors by the Medical Protection Society (MPS), reported high levels of stress (75%), anxiety (49%), depression (32%) and suicidal feelings (13%).
There are higher rates of suicide in doctors than other professionals, especially in young women, who are two and a half times more likely than other women to kill themselves.