A week at AIIMS: 5 doctors admitted to Psychiatry Ward, One attempts Suicide

While many may attribute this increase in stress due to longer working hours and increasing population pressure at AIIMS, Sources at the hospital ironically told MAIL TODAY that there is a rise in a number of such cases due to increased reporting as previously such matter used to be hushed up or not brought to light.

Delhi:  In a short span of a week , five doctors attached to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi have been admitted to the psychiatric ward, seeking treatment for mental health as per a recent report in India Today. The news which did not come as a surprise to many familiar with the plight of resident doctors indeed raises questions of the mental safety of doctors working in government hospitals.

Mail today reports about the admission of these doctors, who seem to have been stricken with the disease of stress. A senior professor of psychiatry division, on the condition of anonymity, told Mail Today, "I myself have seen and admitted at least two doctors in the past two weeks. One of them has been discharged now and the rest are being treated.” Doctors at the hospital also informed that an anesthesia resident tried to commit suicide in the last week, but was thankfully saved by fellow colleagues

While many may attribute this increase in stress due to longer working hours and increasing population pressure at AIIMS, Sources at the hospital ironically told MAIL TODAY that there is a rise in a number of such cases due to increased reporting as previously such matter used to be hushed up or not brought to light.

The senior faculty and Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) have demanded the administration to appoint Psychiatrists/psychologists so that they could share their problems and also to install a helpline number but they later alleged that no heed has been paid to the same.

"For a very long time, we have been demanding counselors and one helpline number where we can share our problems but these demands have not been fulfilled. Also, there is a serious problem of lack of hostels on the campus. After working long hours, when doctors visit their rented accommodation outside the AIIMS, there is a feeling of loneliness. Here inside the campus, at least we can sit together and talk with others after work," Dr Bhatti, RDA President told the daily.

Many issues such as lifestyle, work stress factor, acceptance from the administration, cultural issues, sexual, depression and anxiety could be the contributors to their mental distress.

Medical Dialogues team had recently reported about a 24-year old post graduate medical student hailing from Tamil Nadu allegedly committed suicide by Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh by hanging himself from the ceiling of his hostel room. No suicide note was recovered from the spot, yet his colleagues informed the media, that he was suffering from depression.

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