by Florence de Vries, Head of Marketing and Communication at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences 

In the heart of hospitals, wards and clinics across the world, the people we turn to for healing are often quietly battling wounds of their own. 

Doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other healthcare workers are disproportionately affected by depression, anxiety, and burnout – a reality that, despite its prevalence, is too rarely spoken about. 

A 2025 study at a South African university found that many medical students are experiencing serious mental health challenges, with worrying levels of anxiety and depression. Results from this study, analysing over 200 students currently in medical school showed that 38% had symptoms of generalised anxiety while nearly 68% reported signs of depression.

According to Professor Soraya Seedat, the Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University despite these high rates of mental disorders, health professionals often don’t get the help they need.  

“Worryingly, these disorders often go untreated because of the significant barriers to help-seeking among healthcare workers that include concerns about confidentiality, negative career consequences (for example, loss of professional registration/ licensing), time constraints, beliefs that symptoms can be self-managed, fear of discrimination, and self-stigma. These factors are major barriers to seeking help and recovery,” says Seedat.

Drivers of poor mental health

An article investigating suicide rates among healthcare professionals globally found that physicians face unique stressors including stigma and barriers to seeking help and access to lethal means.

Seedat contends that concerning that rates of depression and anxiety among doctors have risen over time: 

“Job insecurity, reduced job control, increased administrative and bureaucratic burden, and lack of acknowledgement and respect are contributory.” 

Other reasons for the high rates of depression and anxiety include gruelling hours, emotional fatigue, constant exposure to trauma, and a culture that often equates vulnerability with weakness.

While there has been increasing interest in their well-being, relatively little is known about the suicide rates of health professionals and students in the medicine and health sciences fields currently.  

The last official South African statistics in 2012 illustrate that among the 874 medical students surveyed, 32.3% showed a high prevalence of suicide ideation (32,2%) while several reported attempts of suicide (6,9%). 

Burnout rates

Rates of burnout are also high among doctors and other healthcare professionals. 

“Burnout is not a mental disorder but a workplace and organisational problem, characterised by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of being ineffective. It is also associated with poorer patient care, higher absenteeism rates, reduced productivity, and early retirement.”

A 2024 study analysing 208 community service doctors in South Africa found that 89% reported high emotional exhaustion, and 94% experienced depersonalisation – a mental state in which individuals experience feelings of detachment from their own body, thoughts, and feelings. The study found mental illness, financial difficulties and an unmanageable volume of patients to be some of the primary contributing factors. 

Turning the tide 

In South Africa, there is a growing movement to change the culture of silence and stigmatisation around mental illnesses in the medicine and health sciences professions. 

One example is CrazySocks4Docs Day, or #CS4D to raise awareness of the mental health needs of all our healthcare workers.  

The non-profit organisation entity, the Ithemba Foundation runs this campaign – which originated in Australia by Dr Geoff Toogood to show support and turn awareness into action by wearing a pair of mismatched or brightly coloured socks to show you care! #CS4D Day is celebrated every year on the first Friday of June and the Ithemba Foundation works with 10 Medicine and Health Sciences faculties across South Africa to encourage them to participate in the initiative. 

Still, systemic change remains slow. Many healthcare workers hesitate to disclose mental health issues for fear of professional consequences. Though being a healthcare worker does not mean one is immune to suffering, there is still a need to shift the narrative that caring for our carers is not a sign of weakness – it is essential to sustaining care for others. 

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Florence de Vries is the Head of Marketing and Communication at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and a director on the board of the South African non-profit entity, the Ithemba Foundation. 

The views and opinions expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author, who is not employed by Health-e News. Health-e News is committed to presenting diverse perspectives to enrich public discourse on health-related issues.