Physician mental health: A silent crisis, with Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, M.D., MBA, and Christine Yu Moutier, M.D.

Mental health remains a silent crisis among physicians.

Medical Economics Senior Editor Richard Payerchin sat down with Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, M.D., MBA, and Christine Yu Moutier, M.D., to learn more about the rising rates of depression and suicidal ideation among physicians, why stigma and licensing questions still keep many from seeking help, and how to separate burnout from true mental health conditions.

They also outline practical steps that can make care safer and more accessible for clinicians at every stage of training and practice.

Saddawi-Konefka and Moutier are co-authors of a JAMA Special Communication on reducing barriers to mental health care for physicians, published earlier this year.

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Music Credits:
Lo Fi Warm Piano by Elonix - stock.adobe.com
Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com
A Textbook Example by Skip Peck - stock.adobe.com

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

00:00 — Opening statistic: Hidden physician mental health crisis
Depression, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among physicians.

00:22 — Welcome + episode setup
Austin introduces the guests and framing of the discussion.

01:24 — Conversation begins
Richard welcomes Dr. Saddawi-Konefka and Dr. Moutier.

01:29 — Why the JAMA special communication was needed
How the paper came together and why the topic remains urgent.

02:28 — Personal stakes: Colleagues lost, suffering overlooked
Both guests explain how their own experiences pushed this work forward.

03:47 — The current state of physician mental health
What the latest data reveals — and why so much remains hidden.

04:49 — Silence, stigma and the treatment gap
Why physicians rarely seek help even when symptoms are severe.

05:54 — Burnout vs. diagnosable mental health conditions
A clear distinction — and why conflating the two can be dangerous.

08:48 — How burnout gets mislabeled — and why it matters
Why calling every form of distress “burnout” can delay real treatment.

09:41 — The culture of medicine: perfectionism, toughness and silence
How training and tradition fuel stigma and avoidance.

11:15 — Stigma beyond medicine: Broader cultural misunderstandings
Why mental health remains poorly recognized even at the societal level.

14:25 — The role of medical schools
Accreditation requirements, missed opportunities and needed reforms.

15:44 — What med schools still get wrong
How fear of stigma grows during training — and what could change it.

17:15 — Normalizing vulnerability through education
Why modeling “being human” matters for future physicians.

18:35 — Self-prescribing: How common it is and why it’s risky
Data on antidepressant self-prescribing and its consequences.

19:50 — Suicide data: Physicians less likely to be in treatment
How self-management and avoidance increase long-term danger.

21:45 — Fixing licensing and credentialing questions
Why outdated forms perpetuate stigma — and where reforms stand.

24:10 — Why changing the forms isn’t enough
Remaining cultural barriers even after policy fixes.

25:22 — Multi-level solutions: What leaders can actually do
Approaches from screening tools to sustained institutional strategy.

26:45 — Opt-out therapy programs
A promising model that flips the default on seeking help.

28:12 — The most vulnerable moments in training
ACGME mortality findings and early-year risk.

28:28 — Closing reflections + sign-off
Richard wraps the discussion; Austin closes the show.