Depression and Suicidality: Silent Killers Among Health Workers

Abstract

Health workers learn how to prevent and treat illnesses including their own. However, mental illness is not easy for the health workers to prevent. Although depressive illness is a treatable illness in many facilities it has been identified as one of the most common illness among the health professionals. According to various studies, doctors and nurses have very high risk of dying by suicide compared to other members of the population. Yet, these are the very people meant to help other members of the population when they become suicidal. Specific plans for depression and suicide prevention among health workers should be put in place.