Male doctors are 1.4 times more likely to die by suicide than men overall; female doctors are 2.2 times more likely than women. Watch for verbalizing suicidal thoughts, acquiring means like guns or pills, social withdrawal, mood swings, and feelings of entrapment. Help and resources are available.
Suicide rates for doctors is significantly higher, but the suicide rate among male physicians is 1.4 times higher than the general male population. And among female physicians, the relative risk is even more pronounced. It's 2.2 times greater than the general female population. I'm just going to share some other warning signs that I want you to have. Okay, so If you find yourself talking about suicide, or I wish I was dead, or I wish I hadn't been born, or I'm going to kill myself, or you find yourself maybe acquiring the tools with which to do it with a gun, or stockpiling pills, or Googling how to make a noose or something like that. If you find yourself withdrawing from social contact, I want to be left alone. If you're having mood swings, you're preoccupied with death, dying, and violence, feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation, increased use of alcohol or drugs. Interrupted sleeping patterns. Okay, don't try to handle this on your own. Don't just don't. There's no need to. Our world, our society needs you. Okay, and get yourself some space as you get this handled. Then let's talk about creating a different future for yourself within medicine. Okay, there'll be information available for you. There'll be resources available for you. But folks, the facts are this: the more we talk about this. The more people are going to be getting help. The reality is, is that you are in a high-risk industry for suicide. Face the facts. Get help. The science is there. The data is there. The resources are there. Get yourself some help. Let's find you a better future. This is Matt. We'll talk to you soon. Take care, everybody.
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