Prevalence of depression and suicide ideation in Hong Kong doctors: a cross-sectional study

Depression amongst physicians can lead to poor individual and institutional outcomes.

• This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation amongst doctors in Hong Kong.

• Doctors who graduated from medical school at the University of Hong Kong between 1995 and 2014 were invited to participate in a survey measuring depressive symptoms, lifestyle behaviors, career satisfaction, and socio-demographic characteristics.

• The prevalence of screened-positive depression was 16.0% and 15.3% of respondents reported having suicidal ideation.

• Amongst those with positive depression screening scores, less than half reported having a diagnosed mood disorder.

• Sleeping fewer hours was associated with higher depression scores.

• Factors associated with suicidal ideation included being unmarried and sleeping fewer hours.

• Hong Kong doctors appear to have high rates of undiagnosed depression, and high levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideations.

There is a need for greater awareness of the morbidity due to depression and to promote better mental health help-seeking among physicians.

Barriers to mental health help-seeking need to be addressed and appropriate resources allocated to reduce suffering.

Published: 29 September 2021

source:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-98668-4

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98668-4