Doctors 4 Doctors: IMA launches initiative to address mental health issues, reduce suicide incidents

IMA believes that doctors must care for all doctors, especially given the global picture of higher risk of depression and suicide among medical professionals

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has launched an initiative named Doctors 4 Doctors (D4D) aimed at preventing burn out, address mental health challenges, reduce the incidents of suicide among residents and clinicians.

The association sought setting up of counselling centres and a 24x7 helpline in all medical colleges and teaching institutions to help students deal with mental health issues. The move comes days after a 26 year-old MD gynaecology medico allegedly committed suicide after facing harassment by her seniors at a state-run hospital in Mumbai.

Medical Dialogues recently reported about the unfortunate incident where the doctor, 26-year-old PG medico pursuing MD Gynecology from a well known BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room.

The doctors who were accused of allegedly abetting the suicide of the medico; were arrested by the police and the case was handed over to the Mumbai police Crime Branch.

Thereafter, recently,  the Anti-Ragging Committee of Topiwala National Medical College concluded that the medico had faced harassment over her caste from the three accused doctors over her caste.

Read Also:MD Gynaecology Suicide Case: Anti Ragging Committee confirms Harassment over Caste

"We will achieve this by creating awareness of the issue and using tools for emotional well-being. We will provide training for self-help and offer D-4-D Free Help Lines to those in need," IMA national president Santanu Sen said.

The IMA believes that doctors must care for all doctors, especially given the global picture of higher risk of depression and suicide among medical professionals, Sen said.

Globally, the risk is 2.5 times higher among medical students and doctors, with those in the age group of 24 to 37 years being the most vulnerable segment. A study among clinicians in India has revealed that 45 per cent of the respondents scored high on emotional exhaustion with 87 per cent of the doctors scoring low on "personal accomplishments".

According to the chairperson of the IMA National Committee for Emotional Health and Wellbeing of Medical Students and Doctors in India, Nilima Kadambi, D4D will tackle physician burnout and mental health at a system level through changes in policy and training.

Read Also:Pharmacists use DR prefix: IMA writes to Union Health Ministry, MCI

"It will offer a sustainable support system to bring about emotional wellbeing, robust resilience and copying capabilities among the medical students, residents and clinicians," Kadambi said.

IMA's D-4-D team has already held awareness and self-help workshops for medicos on emotional well-being and burn out in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, Surat and Cochin and soon will organise it in Mumbai and other cities.