burnout, often a gateway to suicide, threatens more than 50% of physicians. “Burnout is necessarily work-related. It is a professional over-commitment characterized by emotional exhaustion, loss of self-esteem and dehumanization of the relationship with others”, recalls doctor Agnès Martineau- Arbes, occupational physician.
The causes of this phenomenon have been clearly established. Doctors are overworked. They experience administrative and financial difficulties. Often discredited by their patients, they are increasingly subject to multiple attacks. Their personal life also seems to have taken a beating. As a result, doctors are often divorced and prone to many addictions (alcohol, tobacco).
” The shortage of doctorsthe absence of financial recognition (French doctors are among the worst paid in Europe), the strengthening of administrative and tutelary constraints, increased guilt and finally disrepute only amplify the phenomenon” indignant Jérôme Marty , President of the French Union for Free Medicine (UFML).
The assessment of this catastrophic situation is alarming: “in the medical population, suicide represents 14% of all causes of death combined between the ages of 30 and 60 (5.8% in the general population), i.e. a rate 2.48 times higher than the national average. »
black tuesday
Tuesday, February 18 will be the first “black day” of medicine in tribute to all the professionals who died in suffering and anonymity.
“This suffering of our colleagues must be heard by our decision-makers. To their silence and deafening contempt, we oppose this dark day. During this first dark day, 18 02 2014, doctors will be asked to place a black crepe on their professional plate”, declares Jérôme Marty, president of the French Union for Free Medicine (UFML).
” So that burnout is no longer taboo in the medical community, the Minister of Health must react and launch a national investigation into this subject. »