Unfair to residents. Dangerous for patients.
Share the depression gap. About 28% of residents report a major depressive episode during training, versus about 8% of same-age people in the public. Distress in training is not only a private harm. It tracks with more medical errors.
Residents during training
28%
Same-age people in the public: 8%[25]
Data table
| Group | Rate |
|---|---|
| Residents during training | 28% |
| Same-age people in the public | 8% |
Medication errors, depressed vs not
6.2×
Later major error after +depression screen: OR 2.56
6.2× = 1.55 vs 0.25 errors per resident-month.
When doctors suffer, errors rise
The burnout-only link to measured errors was null in the pediatric study, so burnout alone gets no causal claim from us[72].
Why training conditions matter
Better hours, pay, and debt policy will not cure depression. A kinder schedule gives ill doctors time to seek care. That protects residents, and it protects the patients who depend on them.
Read his story: Dr. Justin Bullock: “You have to speak up.”
Share this page
Share this page with one person in training. Remind them the 988 line exists: call or text 988[27].