A TROUBLING trend showing female physicians in the United States are dying by suicide at significantly higher rates than their counterparts in the general population has been exposed in a recent cohort study. This comprehensive analysis, spanning from January 2017 to December 2021, utilized data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, encompassing 30 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
The study identified 448 physician suicides, with 94 (21%) being female and 354 (79%) male. Alarmingly, the data revealed that female physicians had a higher suicide incidence per 100,000 person-years compared to the female general population in both 2017 (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR], 1.88; 95% CI, 1.19-2.83) and 2019 (IRR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.09-2.65). Overall, from 2017 to 2021, female physicians faced a 53% increased risk of suicide (IRR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.23-1.87).
In contrast, male physicians exhibited a lower suicide risk than their general population counterparts during the same period (IRR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.93).
Further analysis highlighted several factors more prevalent among physicians preceding suicide compared to the general population. These included depressed mood (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR], 1.35; 95% CI, 1.14-1.61; P < .001), mental health issues (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.39-1.97; P < .001), job-related problems (aOR, 2.66; 95% CI, 2.11-3.35; P < .001), and legal issues (aOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06-1.84; P = .02). Notably, physicians were more likely to use poisoning (aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.50-2.30; P < .001) and sharp instruments (aOR, 4.58; 95% CI, 3.47-6.06; P < .001) as methods of suicide. These findings underscore the pressing need for comprehensive and multimodal suicide prevention strategies, particularly tailored for female physicians. The elevated risk factors associated with their profession necessitate targeted mental health support and interventions to address this critical issue. Reference: Makhija N et al. National Incidence of Physician Suicide and Associated Features. JAMA Psychiatry. 2025. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.0401. Anaya Malik | AMJ
