Burnout - Graduate Medical Education & Early Career Physicians-View Presentation

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Video Summary

Dr. Laurel Mayer's talk focused on burnout, depression, substance use, and suicide among trainee and early career physicians, emphasizing both individual and systemic interventions to enhance well-being. Burnout, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy, is prevalent across specialties, affecting about 40% of residents, with serious impacts on patient care and physician retention. Burnout differs from depression, which is more persistent, pervasive, and treatable with evidence-based interventions, though often under-recognized and undertreated due to stigma, lack of time, and confidentiality concerns.<br /><br />The talk highlighted how depression rates rise sharply during internship, affecting 25-30%, and discussed its negative influence on professional identity and career satisfaction. Substance use, especially alcohol misuse, often co-occurs with depression but worsens performance even at sub-intoxication levels. Suicide remains a leading cause of death during training, stable over time but still a critical concern, particularly in certain specialties.<br /><br />Dr. Mayer stressed the importance of recognizing burnout as a system-driven response to chronic stress and advocated for cultural change, social support, and fostering meaning in work. System-level interventions include mental health check-ins, peer support programs, flexible scheduling, and confidential access to treatment. Resilience and optimism, defined as confronting harsh realities while believing in one's capacity to endure, are vital. The talk closed by encouraging clinicians to reflect on their professional values, cultivate gratitude, and practice self-care, reinforcing that physician well-being ultimately improves patient care.

Keywords

burnout

depression

substance use

suicide

early career physicians

systemic interventions

physician well-being

mental health

resilience

peer support

self-care