Suicide among Indian doctors

Abstract

Background: India has one of the largest numbers of doctors in the world. It is estimated that more than 1 million doctors are in India. Every year more than 80,000 medical students graduate as doctors from 529 medical colleges in India. Medical profession is considered as more stressful, but mental health is still a subject of taboo in medical profession in Indian context. Doctors have higher suicide risk, 2.5 times more than the general population. In the United Kingdom, 430 doctors committed suicide between the years 2011 and 2015. Even though suicide among doctors is reported in Indian media, there is hardly any scientific study that has looked into the suicide among Indian doctors because of many hurdles in the collection of information. Materials and Methods: All the Indian newspaper that are published in English and are available in the online platform were scrutinized on doctors suicide report from the year 2016 March to 2019 March. Results: Thirty suicides were reported between 2016 March and 2019 March, out of which 18 were female and 12 male. More than 80% were younger than 40 years. Twenty-two were from medical education institutions. Seventeen were from south India and 13 from North India. Eight were MBBS students and ten were postgraduate students. Among subspecialties, six doctors were from Anesthesia. Seventeen used hanging as a method for suicide, eight used medications, and five jumped from building to end life. Nineteen of suicide reports about doctors mentioned that they were depressed. Conclusion: Suicide among Indian doctors is concern. Majority are young undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. Female doctors were more than male doctors. Most doctors were reported to be depressed and used lethal method such as hanging and medications.

Suicide among Health Care Professionals—An Indian Perspective

“…As per regional studies in India, suicide rates are higher in the south Indian states compared to the northern states [ 7 ]. This was also reflected in the study evaluating doctor suicides, by Kishor et al, in which out of the 30 suicides, 57% were from south India [ 5 ]. Specialties where a higher rate of suicide is seen are Anesthesiology, General Medicine, and Psychiatry [ 6 ].…”

“…In an Indian study by Chahal et al, evaluating 358 deaths among HCPs between 2010–2019, it was found that violent suicide methods were more commonly used, with hanging being the most common means of suicide [ 12 ]. Kishore et al explored 30 reported suicides by Indian doctors between the years 2013–2016 and found that 17 doctors (57%) resorted to hanging, 8 (26%) used lethal injections, 5 (17%) jumped from a building, and one jumped in front of a train [ 5 ]. This is further supported by a study by Jahan et al, which found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the most commonly used methods of suicide by HCPs were hanging and jumping from a height [ 11 ].…”

“…The risk of suicide among doctors is considered 2.5 times higher than that in the general population. Some studies have even reported a higher risk, of between five to seven times [ 5 ]. In the United States, it is said that yearly, nearly 400 physicians die by suicide [ 6 ].…”

Increasing suicides in trainee doctors: Time to stem the tide!

“…Every year 80,000 medical graduates come out from 529 medical colleges in India. [ 3 ] With the government initiative of one medical college in each district, the number of medical professionals is set to increase further. Moreover, we have doctors coming back to India after graduating in medicine from other countries.…”

Spiritual intelligence: A hidden tool at workplace

“…[ 1 ] Suicide among Indian doctors is a major concern and it is reported more in depressed individuals and is more prevalent in females. [ 2 ] Academic stress, marital conflict, mental health problems and harassment (mental/physical) are key factors in suicidal deaths among doctors. [ 3 ] Spiritual intelligence is a hidden tool that can counteract occupational stress at the workplace.…”