Anesthesia and Critical Care Reviews and Commentary (ACCRAC) Podcast Episode 321: Reducing Barriers to Mental Health Care for Physicians with Drs. Saddawi-Konefka, Ehrenfeld and Moutier
Nov 16, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Dan Saddawi-Konefka, an anesthesiologist and president of the Emotional PPE Project, along with Dr. Christine U. Moutier from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, a public health advocate, explore critical barriers to mental health care for physicians. They delve into unique challenges faced by medical professionals, the stigma surrounding help-seeking, and practical strategies to foster a supportive environment. The conversation emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health to protect both clinicians and patient care.
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Mental Health Declines During Training
- Physician mental health worsens during training, with residency showing high rates of depression and suicidal ideation.
- Environment and culture play major roles in these trends beyond individual factors.
Not Seeking Care Harms Patients Too
- Effective treatments exist but many physicians avoid seeking them, worsening outcomes for patients and clinicians.
- Untreated clinician distress impairs care quality and is a public health issue.
Burnout Versus Clinical Illness
- Burnout is an occupational phenomenon requiring system fixes, while depression is a medical illness needing therapy or meds.
- Conflating burnout with clinical disorders delays individual treatment.