Doctors struggling with mental well-being issues need access to more support and resources, writes Dr Volker Hitzeroth, medico-legal consultant at Medical Protection.
A survey undertaken by the society of its members in 2023 was aimed at better understanding the key factors impacting their mental well-being and identify how MPS – as South Africa’s largest medical defence organisation – could assist both its members and the wider medical profession.
The survey findings made for sombre reading, painting a picture of an industry grappling with serious mental well-being concerns.
These were primarily due to the immense pressures and challenges doctors face on a daily basis, many of which are far too common across all facets of society in South Africa.
More than half (55%) of the 662 respondents said political, economic and financial concerns were affecting their mental well-being, while around a third cited the impact of exhaustion and burnout on patient safety as contributing to this.
Meanwhile, 75% said load shedding was affecting their mental well-being, raising concerns about delayed tests, surgeries and prescriptions, failing or unreliable systems, machinery and phones lines, and treating patients in the darkness when inverters or generators fail.
In addition, more than 90% said medication, medical equipment and staff shortages were affecting their mental well-being. Doctors working in state facilities, in particular, spoke of their distress at seeing patients suffer from the continually dwindling supply of staff, medication and equipment.
Respondents also spoke about the impact of abuse from patients and their families, with a quarter (24%) of them saying such behaviour was affecting their mental health.
Notably, one-third said this was worse in October 2023 – when the survey was conducted – than during the pandemic.
‘Exodus’
It is clear from our survey findings that many South African doctors are becoming increasingly exhausted and disillusioned by their daily challenges. Throw in the uncertainty about the future direction of healthcare, and these challenges are understandably taking a significant toll on their mental health.
When mental well-being is poor, it is worrying for the individual practitioner, but can also jeopardise patient care. Without support, these issues can also worsen, and result in doctors needing extended periods of time off work or even contemplating leaving the profession altogether.
Without any meaningful action to support them with this, I fear South Africa may face an exodus of doctors. This fear is reflected in our survey findings.
Almost half of the practitioners surveyed planned to emigrate or leave the industry because of well-being concerns.
This will place even more pressure on the strained healthcare system and the remaining doctors.
Possible solutions
It is imperative that doctors struggling with these issues have access to the support they need. But how do we achieve that?
While most practitioners who took part in our survey feel that the government should do more in this regard, this is not just a challenge to be met by state.
Public and private hospitals, professional societies and medical aid funders and administrators all have a part to play. While many professional societies have recently stepped up with dedicated colleagues looking after the well-being of their members, far more still needs to be done.
At Medical Protection, we would like to see more local mental well-being resources established so those doctors struggling with issues can get the support they need. We also need measures to ensure the system has capacity so those needing time off to recuperate can take it without adding to staff shortages or detracting from patient care.
In addition, the central government, medical organisations and educational facilities could do more to increase research into mental health and its impact on healthcare and, by doing so, increase awareness of the issue.
Medical Protection members can also access counselling as part of their membership for work-related issues or stress that could affect their practice, like burnout, anxiety and conflict.
This service is provided by ICAS which offers a personalised and professional service tailored specifically to individual requirements and delivered by experienced qualified counsellors.
If we don’t all do more to tackle this issue, sadly we may lose many more healthcare workers at a time when the profession can least afford it.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Survey highlights mental well-being of SA doctors
Load shedding a threat to patients' safety, say doctors
Pandemic unleashes a wave of verbal and physical abuse at healthcare professionals