Mental Health Challenges in US Academic Surgeons

A survey of 622 US academic surgeons, trainees, and medical students revealed concerning mental health issues. About 26.1% reported a prior mental health diagnosis, with 15.9% screening positive for depression, 18.4% for anxiety, 11.0% for alcohol use disorder, and 17.3% for PTSD. Those with a history of mental health disorders, depression, or PTSD had increased odds of suicidal ideation. Shockingly, nearly 1 in 7 respondents reported suicidal thoughts in the past year, highlighting significant mental health challenges within the US surgical workforce.