The darker side of being a doctor
A surgeon shares a personal account of the mental health struggles and burnout common in the medical profession. The piece reflects on the systemic pressures of surgical training and the tragic suicide of a colleague.
Why it matters
It sheds light on the high-stress environment of healthcare and the urgent need for better mental health support for medical professionals.
I’m a surgeon. I’d like to think that I’m resilient and well adjusted, having gone through medical school and rigorous surgical training. I’ve been a doctor for 13 years and much of that period has been spent training to be as good a surgeon as I could ever be. I have great family support, a physician wife who understands my work and I’ve never been diagnosed with a mental illness.
The suicide death of Dr Andrew Bryant, a Brisbane gastroenterologist last week hit a raw nerve. His wife wrote this honest and courageous letter.
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