Dr. Sanoop Kumar Sherin Sabu M.D.,(Int Med)

Are you depressed ??

   Click here to read about- "Managing Mental Health" by Dr. Alexander George  and to contact him 

India has one of the largest numbers of doctors in the world. It is estimated that more than 1 million doctors are there in India.

It has been heartbreaking to see the news on doctors, medical students, post graduate residents in India committing suicide. The rates of suicide are found to be more among post graduate doctors doing their residency and super specialty training. Many of the suicide victims leave back suicide notes mentioning about work life imbalance, torture from seniors, harassment from faculty and so on. Many young females post graduate trainee doctors who commit suicide have unfortunately left suicide notes mentioning even about sexual harassment from faculty or seniors too .  

Many of the victims’ parents have reported regarding their wards undergoing stressful time since they joined for their training program. Many of them have not reported the harassment or torture they suffered, due to the fear that they will be failed in their final year exams or they will not be provided adequate opportunities for procedures by their faculty or seniors. Therefore, none of them would have raised our voice even for themself.

Very sadly Few others who survive the torturous work environment and comes out as successful professionals, gets metamorphized as more torturing and sadistic professionals and do the same to their juniors and students forgetting how they and their families suffered while we were doing our post-graduation training. This tendency makes the system remain toxic and uncorrected. Any odd one out who raises his voice will be counted insane by his peers.

Indian culture of medical education and training is so bad that resident doctors are been trained to just suffer and be at the foot of others. As years pass on everyone forgets what they have suffered till the day when he or she loses his or her loved ones or children as victims of torture and harassment.

The rates of suicide and depression are higher among doctors who undergo vigorous training in institutions which have a high work load and poor work-life balance. Many attempted suicides in such institutions are even underreported.  There are no proper studies or publications on the actual rates or percentages of suicides or doctor under depression among post graduate institutions in India. Very few institutions in our country have adequate redressal and supporting system.

Postgraduate doctors may also have additional stressors such as financial burden, more professional responsibility, and many get married to start their families.  It is very important to engage postgraduates in medical colleges and DNB institutes in mental health awareness programs as soon as they join the course. Every medical college or DNB institutions should have a friendly and approachable counselling team to enable the post graduates approach them to early detect depression or issue such as work life imbalance, torture from seniors or harassment of any kind and address it.

 Suicide among Indian doctors has been least studied, and are underreported.  Attempted suicides are often not even brought into light.

What are some solutions?

• Talk to your friends or family members if you are depressed. Never keep it suppressed.

• Never feel afraid to report your work environment toxicity or torture or harassment to your superior authority. If you are been suffering from the head of the department, then report it to the head of the institution or to the university or NBE.

• If you area female, and you feels that you are sexually harassed, without delay inform a female faculty and report it to your parents. Be bold enough to report it to the police or women commission.

Most importantly, one day when you become an independent consultant or senior, do not make your juniors or students face the same. Stay peaceful with them and hear them with empathy.

• India needs a robust system to collect information with proactive involvement Indian Medical Association or Indian Psychiatric Society   or the National Medical Commission to initiate proper documentation and research on doctors’ attempted suicides and prevention of toxic work environment if any.

On this world mental health day 2023 I request Indian Psychiatry Society   to put all their efforts to make a better mental health for their other colleague doctors before we enforce mental health on public.

A proper work life balance is essentially as it is the most important aspect needed for good mental health for any doctors and the patient who is been treated by him.
Jesus Said: “ My Peace I give unto you”. Pray for peace and you will be provided with it.

Links of few Recent news articles citing suicide of resident doctors in India

1. Recent incident of PG medical student’s suicide in Kanyakumari
2. In one month, fourth resident doctor commits suicide in Gujarat-
3. Woman doctor who attempted suicide dies in Hyderabad; father demands judicial inquiry
4. Delhi Doctor, Struggling With Depression, Jumps To Death:
5. Dr. Saif’s suspension in Dr. Preethi suicide case
6. AIIMS doctor commits suicide    
7. Study on Suicide among Indian doctors
8. A promising talent: Friends remember 24-year-old Chennai doctor who died by suicide

Are you depressed ??

Click here to read about- “Managing Mental Health” by Dr. Alexander George  and to contact him for tele-counselling

Webinar by : Dr Ted Hamilton – Physician burnout: prevalence, prevention & resilience

Suicide is not a solution for you. Be ready to talk about your issues and pray for peace.

Help is available

Speak with someone today–

1. India iCall Helpline- 9152987821
2. Indian Suicide helpline directory –91-9820466726
3. Psychiatrist Dr Sandeep.B, MBBS, DPM, MD Psych.(CMC, Vellore) – 91-8838958232 ( Consultant Psychiatrist, Karunagappally, Kollam district, Kerala) – Languages – Malayalam, Tamil, English, Hindi
4. Dr. Alexander George: 91-9847201789 ( Preacher of bible and student counsellor) Languages – Malayalam, English