Physicians attitudes towards mental health and self-reported rates of anxiety, depression, and alcohol use

Physicians, including medical students, experience substantial occupational stressors associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Despite growing attention to clinician well-being, stigma surrounding mental illness remains a barrier to help-seeking. Concerns regarding confidentiality, professional repercussions, and licensing disclosure may discourage treatment. To assess attitudes toward mental illness, self-reported mental illness, and screening-positive rates for depressive and anxiety symptoms, and problematic alcohol use among medical students, residents, and attending physicians at an academic institution. A cross-sectional anonymous REDCap survey was distributed to medical students, residents, and attending physicians. Data collected included demographic variables, a questionnaire regarding attitudes towards mental illness, self-reported history of mental illness, reporting mental illness to the board, and screening for depression, anxiety and problematic alcohol use using validated screening instruments (PHQ-2, GAD-2, and CAGE). Among the 277 participants who completed the survey, attitudes toward mental illness were generally favorable across all ages. Most respondents agreed that mental illness should be regarded similarly to other medical conditions (70.1%), reported willingness to receive care from a physician with mental illness (77.8%), and indicated that a colleague’s mental illness would not alter their perception of that individual (71.9%). Overall, 29.3% reported a prior mental illness diagnosis which was higher in females as compared to males (p=0.042), increased with numbers out of residency and among in those who worked in outpatient practices (42.2%). Screening-positive rates were 35.6% for anxiety symptoms and 18.7% for depressive symptoms. 40.5% screened positive for problematic alcohol use and it was significantly more in females than males (p<0.027). Anxiety symptoms were more common among medical students (p<0.001), and younger respondents(p<0.001). Only 11% of those reporting mental illness disclosed it to licensing boards. Although there is less stigma towards mental illness, disclosure to licensing boards remained uncommon, suggesting persistent concerns. High rates of anxiety symptoms and problematic alcohol use highlight the need for accessible and confidential mental health resources, as well as continued wellness initiatives within medical education and physician practice.