National Doctor's Day 2025: 5 reasons why doctors struggle with mental health and what you can do to help
ALSO READ: National Doctor's Day 2025: What makes July 1 important? Theme, history and significance explained Doctors are often under mental pressure that builds quietly, after long hours of work.(Freepik)
Dr Aparna Santhanam, dermatologist and holistic wellness coach, told HT Lifestyle that while doctors are often seen as 'unflappable', cool, collected, and always in control, there's a real vulnerability that often doesn't make it to the surface.
She said, 'Doctors are often seen as unflappable professionals, but behind the scenes, they face enormous mental and emotional strain. It's time we acknowledge the challenges they endure, and reflect on what all of us can do to make healthcare a more humane, collaborative space.'
Dr Aparna shared 5 reasons why doctors' mental health takes a big hit: 1. Anxiety and hypervigilance The responsibility of life and death decisions weighs heavily, fueling anxiety at times.
Even after hours, doctors often worry: Did I miss something? Could I have done more? This constant vigilance can fuel chronic anxiety. 2. Sleep deprivation Long shifts, night duties, and emergencies disrupt sleep cycles.
Over time, sleep deprivation impairs judgment, empathy, and personal wellbeing. 3. Emotional exhaustion Repeated exposure to suffering, grief, and high-stakes situations can drain doctors emotionally.
This leads to a state of deep emotional fatigue and detachment. 4. Moral distress Doctors often want to do more for patients but are limited by resources, time, or systemic constraints.
Making tough choices like rationing time in emergencies creates significant inner conflict, which can be mentally very distressing. 5. Aggression and impatience from patients Verbal abuse, hostility, or unrealistic demands add to the stress.
While patients are understandably anxious, aggressive behaviour demoralises doctors and strains the doctor-patient relationship.
All these snowball into burnout, which is a state of complete mental and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Since doctors are constantly under pressure, their mental energy gradually depletes. Shruti Padhye, Senior Psychologist at Mpower, an initiative by Aditya Birla Education Trust, added to this and explained, "Burnout in high-pressure hospital settings is rarely just about workload; it's the relentless demand for empathy without adequate emotional recovery. When clinicians are expected to remain composed in the face of ongoing trauma, emotional fatigue isn't a weakness; it's a predictable human response.'
ALSO READ: Happy National Doctors' Day 2025: 100 wishes, greetings, messages, images and WhatsApp status to thank your doctor How doctors reduce their stress levels? Doctors may catch up with their family and friends after long hours of shift to relax and take their minds off work. (Freepik)
Doctors embrace certain techniques to reduce their stress to ensure they can stay composed, care for others effectively, and bounce back quickly. Many of them like to include daily self-care routines even in their busy schedule, from exercise to creative hobbies, to energise themselves. Hobbies
Dr Tanima Baronia, Deputy Director, ICU and consultant anaesthesiologist, Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, shared how creative outlets help doctors connect with themselves and come back to their duties with more compassion.
She said, "Medicine may be our calling, but like anyone else, doctors need moments to reconnect with themselves. Beyond the hospital walls, many of us turn to the arts , dance, music, and painting, not just as hobbies, but as sanctuaries. For some, classical dance offers a grounding rhythm that brings them back to their core. Others find peace in the quiet brushstrokes of an acrylic painting, helping them declutter mentally. These creative escapes are not distractions, but essential tools that help us recharge, reflect, and return to our patients with renewed clarity, energy, and a deeper sense of compassion.' Exercises
Even as doctors take care of others' health, looking after their own wellbeing is also important so that they can stay focused and continue to provide the best care. Dr Seema Dhir, Sr. Consultant- Internal Medicine, Artemis Hospitals, said that fitness is at the very centre of doctors' self-care routine.
She explained, ' Many doctors find time to work out every day, even though they work long hours and are under a lot of stress. They might go for a 30-minute jog at dawn or do yoga to relax between shifts to build endurance. Their work requires them to be clear, strong, and able to bounce back. Exercise is good for your mind as well as your body. It helps doctors deal with the emotional weight of saving lives by making them more focused and less stressed. More importantly, it reinforces what they say every day; it's better to prevent problems than to fix them. When doctors make their own health a priority by moving around, they show that self-care is not just a choice but also a professional duty.' What can you do to support doctors? By being empathetic to doctors, you can help contribute in easing their mental load.(Freepik)
How you behave with a health professional can make a big difference, not just to your care experience, but also to their mental wellbeing, reducing their mental load. Small, empathetic and cooperative gestures go a long way.
Dr Aparna Santhanam shared 5 ways your small acts can help doctors: 1. Respect boundaries Doctors need rest to care for others.
Avoid expecting instant responses at all hours, and understand they, too, need downtime. 2. Don't push for free advice Your doctor friend or relative deserves professional respect.
Rather than seeking casual diagnoses at social events or over text, book a consultation for proper care. 3. Be patient and polite If your doctor is running late, remember emergencies can arise.
Anger or yelling only increases stress for everyone. 4. Be honest about your health Transparency about symptoms, history, and medications enables better, safer care.
Holding back information only complicates treatment. This also adds mental strain on doctors who instead have to fill in the blanks. 5. Remember their humanity, say thank you Doctors are people too, with emotions, families, and limits.
So, a simple 'thank you' or a moment of empathy can go a long way in recognising their work.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Prenatal yoga: Doctor shares dos, don'ts and trimester-friendly asanas for a safer practice
Pregnancy brings several mental, physical, and emotional changes, from swollen ankles and nausea to discomfort and mood swings. Amid all these changes for a holistic respite, many women turn to yoga for a gentle yet powerful practice that helps in supporting the mind and body. Dr Sonu Taxak, Director and Senior IVF Consultant at Yellow Fertility, shared with HT Lifestyle how yoga offers physical, emotional, and mental support during pregnancy. Follow these tips to practice yoga during pregnancy.(Freepik) Furthermore, Dr Sonu also explained how yoga helps in supporting health during pregnancy. He said, 'As the body adapts to support new life, yoga can be a powerful companion through this journey by offering emotional balance, improved circulation, and better sleep. For women who have conceived through IVF or have a high-risk pregnancy, yoga offers physical benefits and a sense of calm and connection. The key is personalisation, moderation, and listening to your body. Just make sure to stay hydrated and rest well. Always carry a water bottle to class, and take frequent breaks. Avoid overheating and listen to your body's signals.' ALSO READ: Yoga for high-risk pregnancy: Doctor shares what to practise and what to avoid Dr Sonu Taxak shared a detailed guide with us, covering all the vital dos and don'ts, along with suggestions for yoga asanas for each trimester: Dos: By following some simple techniques and habits, prenatal yoga can be made safer. Make sure you follow safety precautions while you are practising yoga during pregnancy. (Shutterstock) Consult first: Before stepping on the mat, speak to your obstetrician or fertility specialist, especially if you've conceived through assisted methods like IVF or have a high-risk pregnancy. Before stepping on the mat, speak to your obstetrician or fertility specialist, especially if you've conceived through assisted methods like IVF or have a high-risk pregnancy. Choose the right instructor: Prenatal yoga isn't regular yoga. It requires an understanding of trimester-specific needs and anatomical changes. Always work with an instructor certified in prenatal yoga who can guide you safely through each stage. Prenatal yoga isn't regular yoga. It requires an understanding of trimester-specific needs and anatomical changes. Always work with an instructor certified in prenatal yoga who can guide you safely through each stage. Prioritise breathwork: Gentle breathing techniques like Anulom Vilom or Ujjayi breathing help improve oxygen flow to the baby and reduce anxiety. This is especially valuable in IVF pregnancies, where stress levels may be higher. Pranayama also promotes emotional well-being. Don'ts: Pregnancy yoga needs to follow certain precautions to ensure safety. So knowing what to skip is just as important as knowing what to practise. Skip inversions and deep twists: Poses like headstands, shoulder stands, or full wheels are a strict no. They can disturb blood flow to the uterus and increase the risk of injury. Poses like headstands, shoulder stands, or full wheels are a strict no. They can disturb blood flow to the uterus and increase the risk of injury. No flat back lying after the first trimester: This can compress major blood vessels, reducing blood circulation to the baby. This can compress major blood vessels, reducing blood circulation to the baby. Don't overdo: Pregnancy isn't the time to increase flexibility or hold poses for long durations. Avoid competitive or overly intense practice. Pregnancy isn't the time to increase flexibility or hold poses for long durations. Avoid competitive or overly intense practice. Avoid hot yoga: High temperatures may lead to dehydration and fetal distress. High temperatures may lead to dehydration and fetal distress. Never ignore discomfort: Any physical discomfort, breathlessness, or pelvic pain during yoga should be taken seriously and followed up with your doctor. Trimester-friendly asanas: Every trimester brings its own set of challenges, so not all yoga asanas can be practised throughout. Modifying your poses in tune with trimester-specific needs is important. First trimester: Gentle poses like cat-cow, butterfly pose, and seated stretches improve blood flow and relieve fatigue. Gentle poses like cat-cow, butterfly pose, and seated stretches improve blood flow and relieve fatigue. Second trimester: Try modified warrior pose, supported tree pose, and pelvic tilts to strengthen posture and core. Try modified warrior pose, supported tree pose, and pelvic tilts to strengthen posture and core. Third trimester: Focus on supported poses like side-lying savasana, gentle stretching, and breathing exercises. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!. Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
83% of Doctors in India Report Mental Fatigue, 70% Cite Workplace Safety Concerns
New Delhi: Medical brand Knya on the occasion of National Doctor's day has launched Knya Vitals 2025: Behind the Scrubs, a nationwide survey capturing insights from over 10,000 healthcare professionals across the country. The report intends to highlight the emotional, ethical, and physical toll of practising medicine in India today. The report finds that 83 per cent of doctors experience mental or emotional fatigue, with the rate rising to 87 per cent among women. One in three doctors reports having less than an hour each day for personal time, including rest and time with family. Workplace safety remains a serious concern, with 7 out of 10 respondents saying they do not feel safe at work. The report also states that 1 in 2 medical professionals feel pressured by their institutions to act against the Medical Code of Ethics. Among women doctors, 70 per cent say they feel unsafe at work, and 75 per cent regret entering or continuing in the medical profession. Fatigue levels are higher in smaller cities, with 85 per cent of respondents in tier 2 and 3 locations reporting emotional or physical exhaustion, compared to 74 per cent in Tier 1 cities. The survey indicated that doctors in India are also working significantly longer hours than the national average. Half of the surveyed medical professionals report working more than 60 hours a week, and 15 per cent work beyond 80 hours. Professionals in the 25–34 age group report the longest hours, highest levels of fatigue, and the most regret about career choices. This regret, however, drops notably after the age of 35. The report also highlights the compensation aspect. In terms of compensation and recognition, 43 per cent of respondents feel underpaid and cite inadequate institutional support during the most demanding years of their careers. Doctors practicing in tier 2 and 3 cities such as Nagpur and Aurangabad report more severe fatigue and safety concerns than their counterparts in larger metros, attributing this to limited mental health resources and overburdened infrastructure. According to the report, concerns about artificial intelligence displacing jobs are minimal, with fewer than 1 per cent of doctors viewing AI as a threat. Instead, 55 per cent of respondents fear burnout or mental health breakdowns, 50 per cent worry about a collapse of the public healthcare system, and 48 per cent cite concerns about physical safety in their workplace. Long working hours were identified by 58 per cent of respondents as the most significant barrier to well-being, followed by patient overload at 46 per cent and administrative burden at 36 per cent.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Breast cancer can return years later: Oncologist shares how to spot early signs of relapse
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and like every cancer, there is a chance of breast cancer recurrence even after completion of the prescribed treatment. Hence, every woman has to undergo regular follow up as advised by the treating doctor. Can we catch breast cancer before it returns? Here's what doctors want you to know.(Image by Pexels) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anjali Kulkarni, vice president, RWE Strategy and Analytics and oncologist at 4baseCare, shared, 'Breast cancer recurrence can happen locally i.e. within the same or other breast or regionally i.e. in the axilla or neck nodes. To detect the signs of local recurrence, women can do a routine self breast examination and check overlying skin for any changes. This helps to detect local recurrence quite early. Local recurrence can be confirmed by mammography or ultrasonography.' Going to bed too soon after eating may increase the risk of breast cancer coming back, says a study.(Shutterstock) In many cases, recurrence happens at distant organs like liver, bone, lungs, brain and abdomen. Dr Kulkarni revealed, 'For distant recurrence there can be symptoms like bone pains, jaundice, severe headache, blood in cough or loss of weight. For such advanced stages, imaging is a definitive diagnostic method for recurrence. Mainly radiology tests like PETCT, bone scan, CT, MRI or ultrasound can detect recurrence. These methods usually detect cancer recurrence when the tumour or lesion size reaches at least 7-8 mm and visible on images.' A blood test could spot breast cancer relapse months before any scan Currently, there is an advanced technique ctDNA to identify recurrence even before it appears on the radiology images. Dr Kulkarni explained, 'This is called Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a type of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) released by tumour cells into the bloodstream which can be used to identify cancer recurrence.' She elaborated, 'ctDNA detection can precede clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence by several months, allowing for early intervention. ctDNA levels can be done after treatment and can even help identify patients who are at higher risk of recurrence. Changes in ctDNA levels can be used to assess the effectiveness of treatment and guide treatment decisions.' Will your breast cancer come back? New blood test can predict with 100% accuracy. Here's all you need to know (Image by Freepik) Dr Kulkarni pointed out, 'Usually after completing the prescribed treatment, women are on follow up protocol every 3 months for the first year, then every 6 months for 5 years and then once a year. Few women with advanced breast cancer, the cancer may never go away completely. These women may continue to get treatments to help keep the cancer under check.' The follow up regimen will vary depending on the stage of disease and certain tumour types like Triple negative breast cancer which is known to be aggressive. Dr Kulkarni said, 'Women with BRCA gene mutations have a higher risk of developing bilateral breast cancer. Women who are presented with the early-stage breast cancer can be monitored clinically and radiological tests can be done at 6 monthly intervals. But aggressive cancer types require close monitoring. Technologies like ctDNA will be very helpful in these women for close surveillance.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
