More Canadian doctors and medical professionals reported burnout and considered suicide over the past year as compared to pre-COVID times, a new national survey shows.
The survey conducted by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) from Oct. 13 to Dec. 13, 2021, involving 4,121 physicians and medical learners, states that in the past 12 months, over half of the respondents reported experiencing symptoms of burnout — 1.7 times higher compared to four years ago.
Other psychological factors, apart from burnout, where there have been “alarming increases” include rates of positive screening for depression and recent suicidal ‘ideation’, according to the report published Thursday.
Why is this happening?
“There are much more people who are coming in need of more urgent and acute care…. (There are) longer wait-lists and the longer patients have to wait to receive care,” Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the CMA, says.
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