Depression in Doctors: Breaking the Silence on Stigma, Burnout, and Suicide in Medicine

Doctors save lives — but who saves doctors when they’re struggling with depression?

In this eye-opening episode, trauma surgeon Dr. Michael Weinstein shares his personal experience living with depression inside a profession where stigma is often strongest. Despite having the knowledge and resources to recognize mental illness, Dr. Weinstein — like many physicians — felt depression was a personal weakness and kept silent until he could no longer ignore it.

This conversation reveals why depression in doctors is far more common than most realize, why stigma in medicine prevents help-seeking, and what needs to change in medical education and culture.

Listeners will learn:

• Why suicide rates are higher among physicians than the general population
• How medical training can actually increase depression rates
• The stigma doctors face from colleagues when they disclose mental illness
• The personal story of a surgeon who became both doctor and psychiatric patient
• Why compassion for others often comes at the cost of self-compassion
• How to support physicians — and why healthier doctors mean better patient care

Primary Topics Covered:

• Statistics on depression and suicide risk among physicians
• Why medical trainees experience rising rates of depression
• Stigma and discrimination against doctors with mental illness
• Dr. Weinstein’s personal story: from respected surgeon to psychiatric patient
• The lack of self-compassion among medical professionals
• How avoidance culture in medicine worsens mental health struggles
• Why medical education needs a revolution in empathy and self-care
• Steps toward a more supportive, stigma-free healthcare system

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and intro to today’s episode
 01:14 The shocking stigma around depression in doctors
 02:09 Dr. Michael Weinstein — surgeon and psychiatric patient
 03:27 From successful career to “just enduring life”
 04:37 Burnout, depression, and medical training’s role
 05:56 Why medical education needs a revolution
 06:30 The challenge of self-compassion in medicine
 07:30 Why colleagues often don’t know how to help
 08:38 Weinstein’s struggle to accept help and feelings of unworthiness
 10:22 Avoidance culture and silence in the medical profession
 12:23 Looking ahead to Part Two: living through psychiatric hospitalization
 13:30 Closing reflections and hope for cultural change

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