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Doctors commiting suicide?
An estimated 300 to 400 U.S. doctors kill themselves each year - a suicide rate thought to be higher than in the general population, although exact figures are hard to come by. Many fear admitting psychiatric problems could be fatal to their careers, so they suffer in silence. And when the pain is too much, doctors have easy access to prescription drugs and a precise knowledge of both how the body works and the amount of a drug needed for an overdose to stop breathing and halt the heart. Another estimate of 250 yearly comes from an online article by Dr. Louise Andrew and in American Medical News, an AMA publication. But a spokesman said the AMA doesn't track doctor suicides because accurate numbers aren't available. The overall U.S. suicide rate among men is four times higher than in women - about 23 per 100,000 versus about 6 per 100,000 in women, according to the most recent government data. Depression is often the problem. Depressed doctors frequently decide to self-medicate but don't seek psychotherapy that could help them deal with underlying issues, said Dr. Glenn Siegel, who runs a suburban Chicago program that treats doctors with drug abuse, depression and other psychiatric problems. "It's not a safe topic to be as open about in that profession because you're responsible for the well-being of others," Siegel said. "If you're admitting something like that, you're saying maybe you're not fit to do your job." Adds Lehmberg "You just would rather take a risk with your health than your career. It's not like you get a second chance with it." If you are suffering from depression, don't suffer in silence. Life can be different if you take charge and decide to make things different. Speak to a spiritual counsellor at your local UCKG or call the 24 hour helpline on 020 7686 6000 now to help you get started.
Released on Thursday, 15th May 2008 Source: www.yahoo.com
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