Resiliency, Burnout, and Wellness in Medicine

Author: Aishwarya Thapliyal, MD

Keywords: resiliency, burnout, wellness, medicine, mental health, women doctors, advocacy

‘The Best Way to Find Yourself Is To Lose Yourself In The Service Of Others’ -Mahatma Gandhi.

The healthcare industry around the globe is committed to providing quality medical facilities to its citizens, and the executors of these facilities make this possible. The context of the conversation is the healthcare providers who dedicate their lives for the sole purpose of helping others. The day you decide that medicine is your career of choice, the journey of perseverance begins. One can never show how much hard work is required every single day to sustain your position. The number of years and financial burden that an individual must bear to train and ultimately serve the public is outrageous. Fair wages are an issue in many countries, including the United States, primarily resident physicians. The one who survives the storm is made to conquer it, which seems like an accurate description.

The American Medical Association (AMA) conducted an online survey published in 2020, indicating that 42% of physicians experience burnout. Not surprisingly, female doctors are most affected. The results led me to think about whether or not the societal obligations or stereotypical “duties” of a woman have anything to do with her mental health decline. The gender and the racial pay gap is another hurdle to solving this issue when the expectation of working hours and patient outcomes is the same.

The best advice that I received in med school was always to take care of your health to provide the best care to your patients; it's like the flight announcements, wear your mask before helping others. An article published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal by Alison Motluck in 2018 says that “physicians whose surveys revealed signs of burnout were 2.2 times as likely to report a perceived medical error”.

The great news is that the importance of mental health is getting the attention of people at large, and healthcare providers are leading the way. The stigma is slowly dissolving, and more physicians are getting help and medications that they genuinely need and deserve to take care of their health. Doctors should advocate the same to everyone. A 2017 article shared that 75% of medical students were on antidepressants; however, only a few physicians seek professional help. This difference may indicate that the younger and newer generation is more open to getting mental health help and advocating for the same.

In the end, what matters is the appreciation of the availability of the healthcare system in place. Taking advantage of these services should not only be seen as a need but a right. The world needs more examples and success stories which are only possible with participation and openness, especially by healthcare physicians. The Medical field is a tiny and well-connected community with support pouring in from different parts of the world. This contribution can only strengthen our stance on mental health advocacy and help eliminate the stigma surrounding it. You and I are a part of this system; our responsibility is to build trust and strive for wellness, an epitome of a bright future.

About the author: Aishwarya Thapliyal, MD, was born and raised in India in an Army family, majored in Biology and completed med school from the Philippines, and is currently studying for an Indian medical license and USMLE. (Instagram: @ai.shw.arya)