About six in 10 physicians, medical residents, and medical students in Canada say that their mental health is worse now than it was before the pandemic.
September 06, 2022
The latest results show that the mental health of physicians and medical learners has continued to decline in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the existing issues in the healthcare system. Within the medical profession, about one in five physicians and medical learners said they’ve felt moral distress “very often” or “always,” and another third said they’ve felt moral distress “sometimes” since the beginning of the pandemic.
Beyond that, 78% of physicians and medical learners reported experiences of intimidation, bullying, harassment, or microaggression during their careers. About 40% said they had these experiences frequently or often. At the same time, the survey respondents reported significant barriers to seeking help, citing concerns about stigma, availability, and confidentiality. About 30% of physicians said they were concerned about confidentiality, and 21% said they were worried about losing a medical license or being unable to practice if they sought support.