Healthcare professionals dedicate their lives to healing others, yet many suffer in silence when it comes to their own mental health struggles. Despite working in environments where stress, trauma, and burnout are common, admitting to depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions can feel like a professional gamble especially in regards to licensure.
Licensing Questions That Cross the Line
In many states and across different healthcare boards, licensing and credentialing applications include intrusive questions about mental health history. These questions can ask about past diagnoses, treatments, or even whether a worker has ever sought therapy. The problem isn’t just the questions themselves, it’s the implication. A “yes” answer can raise red flags, leading to invasive follow-ups, mandated monitoring, or, in some cases, restrictions on practice.
For professionals who’ve invested years in their training and careers, the risk feels too high. Many conclude that it’s safer to stay silent than to seek the help they need.
The Culture of Stigma
While society has made strides in reducing mental health stigma, healthcare remains a field where vulnerability is often equated with weakness. A poll conducted by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) found that 73% of emergency physicians view stigma in the workplace as a barrier to getting mental health care.
Due to this and a fear of professional retaliation, 27% of emergency physicians forwent mental health treatment. Workers are expected to perform flawlessly under pressure, putting patients’ needs before their own.
The Human Cost of Silence
The consequences of staying silent are devastating. Providers under chronic stress may experience burnout, medical errors, and worsening mental health. Rates of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and suicide among healthcare workers are significantly higher than in many other professions.
Dr. Saddawi-Konefka, the co-found and president of The Emotional PPD Project, spoke to Medical Economics and expressed his concern about the state of mental health in the industry: “I've seen firsthand how mental health conditions get ignored or sort of framed as ‘just a phase, something that'll pass’. I see how it gets... in the way of performance and well-being, and then more personally, I've lost colleagues and mentees to suicide.” 1.
Why the System Needs Reform
To break this cycle, systemic change is essential:
- Update Licensing Applications: Boards should ask about current impairment: not past diagnoses. This ensures the focus remains on safety while removing fear around simply having a mental health history. Joining initiatives such as Wellbeing First by Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation is a great first step to making systematic changes.
- Normalize Help-Seeking: Employers and professional bodies must encourage therapy and support services without penalizing those who use them.
- Confidential Resources: Accessible, anonymous programs can help healthcare workers get support without the looming threat of professional consequences. Programs like Nivati allow people to seek 1:1 support and access resources whenever they need without going through a third-party or manager.
- Shift the Culture: Leadership in healthcare must model openness, making it clear that mental health challenges are human, not disqualifying.
Breaking the Silence
Healthcare workers shouldn’t have to choose between their license and their life. The current system unintentionally reinforces stigma, discouraging those who need support from seeking it. By reforming licensing practices and fostering a culture that prioritizes mental well-being, we can help ensure that those who care for others also feel safe to care for themselves.
