Physicians’ Mental Health Visits Surge During COVID-19 Pandemic

Mental health and substance use (MHSU) visits among physicians have become increasingly common, with a significant rise noted during the initial two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. A study conducted by Maya A. Gibb, M.P.H., from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and published in the *Annals of Internal Medicine* on November 18, 2025, analyzed MHSU-related healthcare visits among 29,662 physicians in Ontario, Canada.

The research highlighted that the annual age-sex standardized proportion of physicians with one or more outpatient MHSU visits was calculated from July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2022. The findings revealed that approximately 11.0% of physicians had at least one MHSU visit during this period. Prior to the pandemic, this proportion remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 12.5% in the 2003-2004 period and 12.1% in 2018-2019.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physician Mental Health

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic marked a notable shift in mental health care among physicians. The standardized proportion of physicians seeking MHSU care increased significantly, particularly in the first two years of the pandemic. The rates were recorded at 14.6% for 2020-2021, 15.2% for 2021-2022, and dipped slightly to 14.4% in 2022-2023. This increase highlights the heightened mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals during this unprecedented time.

Interestingly, the prevalence of MHSU care varied by specialty prior to the pandemic. In 2018-2019, 28.0% of psychiatrists, 14.2% of family physicians, and 9.7% of all other specialty physicians reported one or more MHSU visits. During the pandemic, all specialties experienced an increase in mental health care visits, with the exception of psychiatry, which remained stable.

The authors of the study suggest that current discussions surrounding a potential mental health crisis among physicians may not indicate a new phenomenon. Instead, they argue, it underscores a long-standing trend of adverse mental health conditions among physicians that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, these findings are crucial for understanding the ongoing mental health challenges faced by medical professionals. Addressing these issues may require systemic changes in how mental health support is provided within the medical community.

For further details, refer to the original research conducted by Maya A. Gibb et al. in the *Annals of Internal Medicine*.