I'm an emergency doctor who knows burnout firsthand. Here's why every industry should be paying attention

Fast Company

2 days ago

One of medicine's harder lessons about burnout and mental health might be the most urgently needed by every industry right now.
As an emergency physician who also did four years of surgical residency training, I witnessed firsthand how the grueling training that medical residents face, coupled with a tough-it-out attitude, can cause silent suffering—and sometimes with deadly consequences.
Often it is the institutional stigma that prevents doctors from seeking help. Physician burnout is a systemic, not individual, failure, and its prevalence has been growing. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the pandemic increased physician burnout to an all-time high, due to the grief, isolation, and psychological pressures.
Physician Suicide: The Tip of the Iceberg
Studies show physician suicides are among the highest of any profession. For men, it's 40% higher than the general population, and for women, it's up to 130% higher.
Seeking mental health support is still seen as a risk—not to our well-being, but to our careers. Often there are fears of career consequences if we speak candidly about our mental health. Plus, issues related to licensing and credentialing processes often exacerbate this silence. Inside the industry, there's the subtle implication that physicians with any mental health issue might not be fit to practice. And it's a tragic irony, as we spend our careers advocating for our patients' mental health but often are too afraid to address our own.
ER Violence: Another Burnout Contributor
Burnout isn't only due to emotional exhaustion and stress. It can also be fueled by daily threats and obstacles that can strip away our dignity.
Violence against healthcare staff, especially in emergency departments, is escalating. A 2024 poll from the American College of Emergency physicians (ACEP) found more than 90% of emergency physicians report being threatened or attacked in the past year. These incidents carry more than physical harm: 85% of physicians cite emotional trauma and anxiety, and 89% say their productivity has been impacted by it.
Every assault is another blow to the emotional well-being of physicians, as well as affecting the quality of care for patients, too. And it shows up beyond medicine, too: in industries where plenty physical labor is involved—say, service, hospitality, or event execution—a lack of safety protocols can knock down emotional well-being for workers.
Insurance Battles: An Administrative Avalanche
Healthcare professionals spend up to two hours on clerical work for every clinical hour, driven largely by paperwork, billing, and prior authorizations, which has increased steadily over time. According to an AMA survey, this added burden of prior authorization is contributing to physician burnout. But additionally, we also worry about pre-authorization and its often-associated denials. About 94% of medical professionals surveyed reported it negatively impacts patient care.
Excessive administrative work and burden is strongly correlated with burnout, but also stress-related health problems. And it's not only in healthcare: it's also seen in plenty of other industries, from finance to business to tech.
Resilience Culture: Shifting Leadership from Stoic to Supportive
In healthcare 'resilience' is seen as a badge of honor, entailed by pushing through grueling shifts, making life-or-death decisions, and walking out with a composed face. But true resilience is built on having support, empowerment, and trust. Resilience does not mean invulnerability.
But medicine's history has taught us that psychological safety matters more than invulnerability. Creating a psychologically safe environment—where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and be vulnerable without fear of negative consequences—is more important than maintaining a facade of control. In healthcare, psychological safety is crucial for open communication, error reporting, and team collaboration, ultimately benefiting patient care. And it applies to every industry. Credibility in leadership cannot be built on denial of stress; teams led by emotionally intelligent, vulnerable leaders perform better.
Trauma-informed care is a model that originated in medicine and mental health but has profound implications for any workplace. It prioritizes trust, empathy, and empowerment, thereby improving outcomes for patients and providers alike. It influences how individuals interact, communicate, and respond to challenges at work. Adopting trauma-informed principles of safety, empowerment, and collaboration can benefit any workplace, replacing isolation with solidarity.
Small Shifts with Big Impact
Corporations, law firms, schools, and more could learn from emergency departments. It's important to acknowledge risks, measure physical and emotional safety, empower employees to help shape the system, and make sure your leaders are connected to their people.
Burnout is not a character flaw. It's an organizational and occupational hazard. When violence, paperwork, and isolation compound high-stakes fields, emotional safety can be the difference between thriving or breaking.
Medicine is slowly proving it's possible to change through systemic redesign. We don't need more heroes who suffer in silence. We need systems that listen, leaders who care, and cultures that heal instead of harm. If medicine, one of the most tradition-bound professions, can begin to change, so can everyone else.