Help-seeking for depression among Australian doctors

Abstract

Background: Depression is common among doctors. However, concerns remain that doctors are unlikely to ask for help when symptoms of depression arise. Aims: To determine rates and patterns of help-seeking for depression among doctors and to identify predictors of and barriers to such behaviour. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on a nation-wide survey of 12 252 Australian doctors. The study sample consisted of doctors who reported having ever felt seriously depressed (n = 4154; 33.9% of total sample). Rates of help-seeking, professional help-seeking behaviours and self-reported barriers were explored. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between professional help-seeking and predetermined predictive factors. Results: Sixty percent (95% confidence interval (CI): 58.5–61.5) of doctors who have ever felt seriously depressed reported some form of professional help-seeking for depression. The most common barrier to help-seeking was ‘privacy/confidentiality’. Females (odds ratio (OR) = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.50–2.01; P < 0.001), locally trained doctors (OR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.12–1.59; P = 0.001) and senior doctors (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.14–1.61; P = 0.001) were more likely to seek professional help than their counterparts. Compared with general practitioners, psychiatrists (OR = 1.565; 95% CI: 1.15–2.13; P = 0.004) were more likely to seek professional help while surgeons (OR = 0.518; 95% CI: 0.37–0.72; P < 0.001) and pathologists/radiologists (OR = 0.695; 95% CI: 0.49–0.99; P = 0.043) were less likely. Conclusion: While it is reassuring that the majority of depressed doctors were able to seek professional help, many were not. Major barriers to professional help-seeking, particularly concerns about confidentiality and impact on career, remain a problem. Male, overseas-trained, junior doctors, surgeons and pathologists/radiologists were less likely to seek help for depression. Targeted interventions are required to increase appropriate help-seeking for depression in doctors.