By Sejal Shah | Posted: December 09, 2019
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 300-400 physicians die by suicide annually. That’s almost a doctor a day. As mentioned in the April 2016 issue of U.S. News & World Report, physicians have higher rates of depression, divorce, and substance addiction than the general population, and 50-70% of doctors suffer from “burnout syndrome”. A growing body of research shows that physician burnout and depression are linked to medical errors, and to the kind of depersonalized care that is often both less effective and less palatable to the patient. These statistics are an alarming reminder for medical professionals to pay close attention to the issue of the physician or medical burnout.
How to handle burnout
There are different ways physicians can deal with overwhelm, compassion fatigue, and burnout.
Hemant Sharma, a pediatric allergist from Howard County, on top of his duties as a physician and administrator, also co-chairs a committee at Children’s National Hospital that aims to improve the well-being of the hospital's workers. He is also a father of 3 young children under the age of 10, and volunteers for many different non-profit organizations.
Recently, the Washington Post got in touch with Sharma to discuss how he juggles all of his different roles and responsibilities so effectively. What is his take on physician burnout, and what is his secret to staying compassionate, balanced, and engaged?
In this conversation, Sharma shares some very important insights and useful strategies from his own personal experience of dealing with the enormous stress that this noble profession encounters.
Tell us: how do you manage your burnout?
If you are a physician or a healthcare professional, we’d love to hear about your own experience of dealing with your professional stress. Please write to us at blog@us.artofliving.org.
The Living Well Program
Art of Living is proud to offer the Living Well Program to members of the healthcare community so that we can all learn to live without professional, emotional, and physical burnout. If it’s time for you to take a break and recenter yourself and your professional vision, check out the offerings at the Art of Living Retreat Center, located in the serene, beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
Sejal Shah, E-YRT 500 Sri Sri Yoga Teacher, YACEP, Meditation Teacher, Happiness expert, NYU Post Graduate Medical School approved Yoga-CME retreat facilitator, Mind-Body Wellness Writer, Homeopath. She can be followed on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
