The study found that 42 percent of the 97 doctors had symptoms of anxiety, much higher than the average national level before the pandemic: Persuasive Communications Dissertation, SMU, Singapore

The study found that 42 percent of the 97 doctors had symptoms of anxiety, much higher than the average national level before the pandemic. About 81 percent of the doctors surveyed had symptoms of stress, according to the study shared at the 8th Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference last month.

However, Doctors are reluctant to seek help for their mental health due to the Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines of the SMC. Once a Doctor declares a mental health condition to the SMC, the council requires reports from the attending psychiatrist in order to assess whether the Doctor is able to continue providing safe and appropriate care for his patients.

This can be evident from one of the doctors who told ST she does not know anyone who has taken up the free psychological services available to doctors, even before the pandemic. “A visit to the center would appear in my patient record and I wouldn’t want that to be brought up 10 years down the road.”

Therefore, Doctors in Singapore may be less willing to seek help for mental health conditions for fear that their license to practice will be compromised. Moreover, they are also afraid that they may lose their job or any opportunity for a career advancement