Two-thirds of Irish doctors still go into work when feeling mentally unwell, new research has found.

The Medical Protection Society’s research revealed that some 50% of those surveyed also worried that not taking sick leave may have meant their patients received a lower standard of care.

Newstalk reporter Sarah Madden told The Pat Kenny Show that absence rates among doctors sit at around 1.6%, compared to an average of 4.6% across all other disciplines.

Sarah spoke to the Director of the Medical Protection Society (MPS), Doctor Rob Hendry, who said that there is a culture of 'presenteeism’ in the medical profession.

“Presenteeism is an attitude or a culture that requires or puts pressure on individuals to go to work when they’re not fit to do so and when they really ought not to be there because they’re not able to perform as well,” he said.

“Indeed, they may [be] putting their own health and other people’s health and well-being at risk.”

Tired young man having headache while working or visiting doctor. Image: Aleksandr Davydov / Alamy. 24 February 2017

According to Dr Hendry, many doctors were aware that staffing shortages meant their absence would add to colleagues’ workloads.

“They knew that there was a backlog of waiting lists and they were worried if they didn’t go to work, patients wouldn’t be seen,” he said.

“Again, somebody else said to us, ‘I’ve gone to work despite feeling mentally unwell but I’ve pushed my mental health issues aside as I feel that is expected of me and I’m obliged to look after other people over my own health’.”

Occupational hazard

The MPS has also found through further studies that 64% of doctors say they are frequently burnt out or exhausted, while one-in-five describe their mental well-being as of concern.

Some research also suggests that doctors are twice as likely as other professions to take their own lives.

The British Medical Journal having cited suicide as an occupational hazard, with female doctors being the most at-risk.

Unhappy doctor feeling exhausted in clinic. Image: Aleksandr Davydov / Alamy Stock Photo. 11 May 2021

President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Doctor Lorcan Martin said that high stress levels can also lead to people quitting the industry.

“People work themselves into such a state and become so distressed by what’s going on and so upset and so worn out," he said.

"The only way they see out is to actually leave the profession entirely and go off and do something else."

Dr Lorcan Martin said that if every doctor took the time off they feel they need, "we would have very few people left".

If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, you can contact The Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie.

Listen back here:

Main image: Doctor feeling dizzy. Image: PHOVOIR / Alamy. 19 January 2018