Prioritizing Mental Health in 2023

Jan 25, 2023 by Wendy Steger, DDS - DCDS Member
Historically, dentists have had one of the highest suicide rates amongst any profession. Recent studies have reported that dentists are 17 times more likely to commit suicide than non-dentists. I repeat, SEVENTEEN times more likely. That’s a staggering statistic and it’s time for us to make a change.

Even though mental health has been discussed more in recent years than ever before, it remains a stigma. I still find it hard to talk about it to my friends and family, let alone my colleagues. However, we need to realize that this is a real problem and find a way to shed light on this issue. Encouraging discussion about mental health may help lessen the stigma and make it easier for others to reach out for help when they need it.

What is it about our profession that increases our risk for depression, anxiety, and burnout? Likely, one of the apex reasons is that dentistry can be so isolating. Many dentists are solo practitioners and miss the interaction with other dentists in their daily practice lives. Often, there isn’t another dentist there to just ask the simple question, “how are you doing?” One way that has assisted me through my career is attending DCDS events. These gatherings have given me the ability to build friendships and comradery with colleagues outside of the office. Because dentistry remains such a unique profession, it is nice to be able to converse with colleagues who truly understand what you are going through.

Many of us graduate dental school and immerse ourselves in all things dental. We listen to podcasts, we read articles, we read through thousands of dental Facebook groups, we scroll through dental Instagrams, we take CE any chance we can get, etc. It becomes tiresome thinking and breathing dentistry 24/7. It’s so important to discover your purpose in life outside of dentistry. Your purpose can be anything from gaining a new hobby to being a good partner or parent. Anything that provides us a sense of purpose outside of the office is beneficial and medicinal for us when things aren’t going well in our work lives. It can help keep us grounded.

When the flight attendants go over the safety demonstrations before a flight, what do they tell you? They tell you to put on your oxygen mask first before you help others. Focus on yourself, because we can’t take care of others until our own state of mind is taken care of. Let’s embark this new year prioritizing self-care. It can be anything from going on a spa day, going on a walk, getting a haircut, or just setting aside 5 minutes a day to meditate. It can even be as simple as getting 7 hours of sleep a night. If our mental health isn’t nurtured, how can we operate to the best of our ability? How can we provide the best care for our patients? And how can we be great leaders?

Mental health must be considered in partnership with our physical health. That’s the reality. In the month of resolutions, let’s come together and prioritize our mental well-being so that we can better serve our patients and those around us.