Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld Stresses Systemic Reform as Physicians Shy Away from Mental Health Care
05 Sep 2025
A striking new report published in JAMA Network Open, co-authored by anesthesiologist, Medical College of Wisconsin executive and APB speaker Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, reveals a troubling trend: most physicians experiencing mental health challenges do not seek care.
Ehrenfeld, also executive director of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, has personally endured the loss of three colleagues to suicide already in his 40s. “The problem is not the person. The problem is the system we drop these people into,” he said, underscoring the systemic shortcomings behind physician suffering.
The JAMA report paints a sobering picture: roughly one in three physicians experience depression, nearly one in four report anxiety, and around 10% suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder—all significantly above the general public's rates. Even more staggering, female physicians face a 53% higher suicide rate compared to women overall.
Moreover, outdated licensing and credentialing processes stigmatize physicians further. A 2007 survey exposed that nearly one-third of state medical boards would consider sanctioning a physician solely for a mental health diagnosis, making confidentiality a critical barrier.
Drawing from years of experience as an academic researcher and national medical leader, Ehrenfeld gives both voice and momentum to much-needed reform.