Suicide is an occupational hazard for physicians. It is the only cause of death that occurs with more frequency in physicians than non-physicians, at double the rate of the general population. For perspective, 400 physicians take their own lives every year in the US — that's more than one doctor a day. And a survey by the Canadian Medical Association showed that 1 in 3 physicians screened positive for symptoms of depression last year and at least 8% thought about killing themselves during the same time. Recent data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation. What is going on? Dr. Anwar Khokhar is an internist and hospitalist who is now training in nephrology. He's going to join me to talk about this urgent topic, sharing both his professional and personal experiences.

[If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline — https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ — for 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.]

Watch the video version of this episode: Subscribe to Unlicensed Therapist on YouTube and hit the notification bell to be informed of new episodes

Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Instagram: @UnlicensedTherapistPodcast
Follow Unlicensed Therapist on Facebook
Follow Unlicensed Therapist on TikTok

Unlicensed Therapist Design and Branding: Pakkhee
Unlicensed Therapist Theme Music: "Juggi's Gonna Kill It" written and performed by Ali A. Rizvi, Ali Noor, Zameer Rizvi, and Ali Hamza