KAUAI, HAWAII — U.S. physicians have among the highest suicide rates of any occupation in this country, and a 1-hour documentary has been made to illuminate this problem, Dr. Paula Clayton reported.
The hope is that the documentary, which is titled “Struggling in Silence: Physician Depression and Suicide,” will foster a change in the practice and culture of medicine so that physicians begin to feel free to seek psychiatric help when they need it, said Dr. Clayton, medical director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), at the annual meeting of the American College of Psychiatrists.
According to a clip from the film shown at the meeting, 300-400 physicians commit suicide each year. The clip showed interviews with a medical student in San Diego, a surgeon from Arkansas, and a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The first two described their struggles with depression, and in the third interview, the physician discussed her difficulties in dealing with bipolar disorder.
The film also includes interviews with two spouses who were survivors of husband physicians who committed suicide, Dr. Clayton said.
The film is scheduled to be aired on PBS stations in May, although the date had not yet been set at press time.
In addition, a set of slides related to the topic of the film is being developed that can be used at medical schools, in residency programs, and at hospitals, according to Dr. Clayton.
Those slides will be available over the next few months.
From the larger film, a 13-minute short about the medical student also has been under development.
“We lose about an entire medical school class a year—of physicians—to suicide,” Dr. Clayton said.
“Struggling in Silence,” created by AFSP, was partly funded by the American College of Physicians, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and proceeds from a fund-raising walk that was held in Boston, commented Dr. Clayton.