Canadian doctors are suffering from burnout at an `alarming´ rate, survey finds
(The Star Toronto Raptors)

One in four Canadian physicians suffers from burnout, according to a survey of the profession.Released on Wednesday, the poll by the Canadian Medical Association also shows significant rates of depression and suicidal ideation (thoughts) among the nation’s doctors. “To see these results reported is alarming,� said CMA president Dr. Gigi Osler, warning that poor physician health can impact patient care.Residents, or doctors in training, along with female physicians report the highest rates of problems, according to the CMA National Physician Health Survey: A National Snapshot. The findings are consistent with those reported in other jurisdictions and are being made public the day before 500 people — mostly doctors — from around the world gather in Toronto for the International Conference on Physician Health. The conference is held every two years and is organized by the Canadian, American, and British Medical Associations. The CMA represents Canada’s 85,000 doctors, residents and medical students.Read more: Ontario doctors ‘distressed’ over wave of bullying, infightingOntario health-care workers face ‘epidemic of violence’We spent two days inside one of York Region’s most crowded mental health units. One patient worried ‘it’s not good for our recovery’The CMA survey was conducted online last year with almost 3,000 physicians and residents. It is the first time a study of this extent has been done on the Canadian medical workforce and will serve as a baseline for future research.According to the findings, one in three Canadian physicians screens positive for depression.To assess participants for suicidal ideation, they were asked if they had thought about taking their own lives. Nineteen per cent responded that they had done so within their lifetime and 8 per cent reported doing so in the last year.Osler said what strikes her most about the findings is the large number of doctors r ...