Physician heal thyself: doctors and mental-health care

A survey of over 3,500 doctors in Birmingham has found that nearly three-quarters would rather talk psychological problems over with friends and family than see their colleagues in mental-health. Only 13% would choose to disclose their illness to a GP and 79% said that they would opt for treatment in either a private or distant facility. The most-important reasons behind this decision were worries over career implications (33%), professional integrity (30%) and stigma (20%) rather than concerns about the quality of care (25%). 41% said that they would seek informal advice for outpatient treatment but 8% said that they would self-medicate or opt for no treatment at all.

You can find out more about this research at

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/08/20/physicians-avoid-mental-health-care/7875.html