Doctor burnout: calls for change after Quebec pediatrician dies by suicide

[00:00:00]In April, Dr. Karina Poliquin, a pediatrician in Trois-Rivières, took her own life. She was 35 years old. In the months leading up to her death, while doctors were in negotiations with the Legault government, she spoke publicly about the lack of support for healthcare workers.

[00:00:18]And about her own struggle with burnout.

[00:00:21]>> She was very present on social media.

[00:00:24]She talked about children care, children health. She also denounced the lack of resources in the healthcare system. And her death was like a a big shock in the whole medical community.

[00:00:36]>> Reporter Marie-Claude Paradis de Fossé met with one of Dr. Poliquin's friends who shared part of the letter she left behind.

[00:00:46]I can't ignore the fact that medicine has broken me. This world, despite some incredible people, is so inhuman at times.

[00:00:56]They add she was worried and said she was given warnings when she spoke to the media. In a statement to Nuvo Info, the regional health board writes, "Our organization has implemented various initiatives to support the mental health of its staff. These include a peer support network, awareness-raising activities, training sessions, and regular reminders about available support resources." But Dr. Poliquin's death could be a symptom of a much deeper problem.

[00:01:22]>> Actually, there is more than 11% of the doctor that have had some suicidal thought during the past year. And if you compare with the general population, it's less than 3%. So, it's a huge difference.

[00:01:35]>> In the same national survey by the Canadian Medical Association, nearly 46% reported high levels of burnout. It rises to 49% among women. 65% of physicians sought psychological support, an 11% increase since 2021.

[00:01:52]>> The first thing I said to myself and is it could have been me.

[00:01:56]>> Dr. Steven Palanchuk says Dr. Poliquin's death brought him back to a time years ago when he was struggling. He knows at least five colleagues who have died by suicide.

[00:02:08]Now, he addresses physician mental health in his podcast.

[00:02:11]>> I want to show that we are not alone feeling this kind of way and the more we talk about it the better it will be.

[00:02:21]>> I started feeling feeling sick to my stomach.

[00:02:25]>> Dr. Jean-Paul Brutus suffered burnout twice before deciding to leave the public system. The plastic surgeon says there were clinic days when he would see as many as 100 patients. Many doctors and advocates Nuvo and Fo spoke to site work overload, constant pressure, and a lack of resources as contributing factors for burnout.

[00:02:44]>> Most of us doctors know doctors who've taken their lives.

[00:02:49]Um and I personally know of about four personally.

[00:02:55]But I also know indirectly of well over 20.

[00:02:59]>> Some experts say physician distress is still taboo and precise data on the number of doctors who die by suicide doesn't exist in Canada. That has some calling for change including improved data collection.

[00:03:13]>> A doctor who dies or a doctor who's unable to work for medical leave or whatnot, that's a lot of patients who don't have a doctor anymore.

[00:03:22]>> An issue many want to see urgently addressed to prevent more tragedies in the future. Angela Mackenzie, CTV News.