Bhubaneswar: “One day, I fell unconscious in my chamber. Though I was okay after two days, I was worried about my mental health. I took time off and started working on this aspect, which I did not give importance in life earlier,” said a 44-year-old surgeon.He sought help from his psychiatrist friend and is now recovering. “I appeal to all doctors to take care of their mental health. If we do not remain fit physically and mentally, how can we continue in our profession for long?” he added.Dr Subrat Kumar Acharya, a noted gastroenterologist and former president of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said doctors also face mental health issues like ordinary people. “But doctors’ work is very challenging. While treating patients, attendants of the patients have a lot of expectations from doctors, like 100 per cent recovery. But that does not happen every time. Doctors face agitation and violence sometimes. This also affects the mental health of physicians,” he added.He said another aspect is burnout. “I don’t remember sleeping properly until I became a professor because I was working in a govt hospital for decades. There is a lot of work stress and continuous work, which causes burnout syndrome. Due to work-related pressure, doctors neglect their own health,” he added.“What I remember is that doctors have a lower average lifespan than the general population. I think because of the overwork, doctors cannot put effort into physical health like exercise, diet control, and sleeping at fixed times,” he added.Dr Biswa Ranjan Mishra, professor and head of psychiatry at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said doctors need care too. “The demanding profession of doctors takes a toll on their physical and mental health. One of the most noble professions, which is also service-oriented, leaves the professional completely exhausted. As they say, ‘you can’t pour from an empty vessel,’ the doctors need to take care of themselves first,” he added.He said effective management of time is key. Prioritising one’s own self-care routines, having meaningful relationships in life, family support, and investing in physical workouts are inevitable. “Doctors can experience a significant amount of burnout due to their work demands. It is essential that they understand the signs of burnout and take breaks without hesitation,” he added.Sarada Prasanna Swain, professor and former Director of the Mental Health Institute (MHI), SCB MCH, stated that around 30 percent of doctors in India, including Odisha, face burnout and exhaustion. “Doctors should feel free to ask for support and care from their own professional community. After all, doctors are human beings with all their vulnerabilities and challenges of life,” he added.He said doctors should make a daily habit of unwinding from work pressure and spend some time in leisure activities, which can give them happiness and a mental boost to go through the work demands the next day. “Erratic and busy lifestyles, work-related stress, and delays in intervention lead to mental health issues among doctors. As they most of the time focus on patient treatment, they get less time or no time for their mental and social well-being. They should change their lifestyle for better physical, mental, and social health,” he added.
