The Weight Beneath the White Coat: Professional Stress, Help-Seeking Barriers, and the Hidden Grief of Doctors

Abstract

Doctors face disproportionately high rates of stress, burnout, and suicide compared to the general population. Yet, paradoxically, help-seeking among doctors remains exceptionally low. This article explores the systemic, cultural, and psychological barriers that prevent doctors from accessing support. Drawing on clinical experience, sociocultural analysis, and reflections from the field, we argue that medical culture and professional identity shape a unique and often isolating experience of stress. We call for institutional reforms and early educational interventions to normalise vulnerability, promote wellbeing, and support doctors in their dual identities as caregivers and human beings.