1. 16 July 2016 | Emergency Physicians Monthly
EPM'S SURVEY ON EP MENTAL
HEALTH – 10 YEARS LATER
special report: The Breaking Point
In 2006, EPM conducted a survey about the mental health challenges faced by practicing
emergency physicians. The results were shocking. This year we recreated that same survey and
reached out to over 500 readers to see how attitudes had shifted in a decade. Here are the full
survey results.
This
article
ran in the July
2016 issue of
EP Monthly
71.3%
28/7%
1. Have you ever taken a Burnout
Inventory?
2. Do you fear that you may be
burned out?
Yes
No
81.6%
18.4% Yes
No
3. Have you ever known personally
a physician colleague who has had
a clinical depression (diagnosed by
someone other than you)?
71.3%
28/7%
60.2%
39.8%
Yes
No
4. Have you ever known (personally)
a physician or medical student who
completed suicide?
5. Have you ever experienced
symptoms that might be/have been
indicative of depression?
6. If yes, did/have you sought
treatment from a professional?
7. If you did NOT seek treatment,
was it because you were concerned
about reporting requirements or
confidentiality?
8. Have you been asked whether "you have
ever experienced a mental illness" by a
licensing agency, employer or credentialer
(e.g. hospital):
9. Whether or not diagnosed, if you are
ever affected by symptoms which might be
depressive in nature (feelings of sadness,
worthlessness, loss of energy or creativity
or libido, somatic symptoms lasting for more
than a week) do you:
Yes
No
57.1.%
42.9 %
Yes
No
Does not apply
58.9%
29%
11.5%
Yes
No
Does not apply
45.4%
30.3%
24.3%
Yes
No
Does not apply
39.4%
35.3 %
24.7 %
Yes
No
Does not apply
60.1%
32.7%
7.2%
05 0 100 150 200 250 300
increase productivity
increase exercise
increase carbohydrate intake
increase light exposure
talk to a trusted other
drink alcohol
self prescribe

2. www.epmonthly.com 17
10. If you have ever been depressed or had
symptoms which might be depressive in nature,
did this occur predominantly or exclusively in the
winter?
11. If you have ever been depressed or
had symptoms which might be depressive
in nature, did you ever consider harming
yourself while feeling this way?
Yes
No
18.4%
Yes
No
12. Does your state require that
you report a potentially impaired
colleague to your state physician
health program?
81.7%
18.3%
79.4%
19%
47.9%
50.6% Yes
No
I am not sure
13. If yes, would you do so even if
you were not SURE that there was
any evidence of impairment?
Yes
No
I am not sure
50.4%
39.4%
10.2%
14. Do you have a physician or other source of
primary medical care?
15. If you felt you might be developing
depression would you consult this
individual?
Yes
No
81.6%
Yes
No
16. Sex:
Female
Male
17. Age:
>50
40-50
30-40
76.6%
23.4%
58.4%
41.6%
74.1%
25.9%
57.9%
31%
11%
18. Area:
MD
RN/LPN
EMT