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Typically, the strains of medicine are felt most acutely after ten to 15 years. Early signs of distress are extramarital affairs and physical upsets, including insomnia and diarrhea. Some suicidal physicians may also avoid social contact, draw up wills or make unexpected gifts. Says U.C.L.A. Thanatologist Edwin Shneidman: "If a colleague offers you his prized microscope, you might want to sit down with him and try to identify his problem."
Alarmed by medicine's casualties, the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association have launched a joint study of these suicides. Professional organizations are intensifying efforts to reach troubled physicians. The California Medical Association, for example, urges doctors to call a hot line for counseling. The group also runs weekend workshops for physicians and their spouses on how to cope with stress. Such programs have had some success but are limited because doctors are reluctant patients. Says Wekstein: "We have to teach them that they are not just doctors but also human beings." ∎
*Others with high suicide rates include dentists, lawyers and police officers.