Long hours, complex operations, competition to succeed at the highest level and looking after the lives of patients exact a heavy mental toll on Australian doctors.
So the profession is set to examine itself with a new medical initiative to remedy the mental health of Australia's healthcare professionals.
National Doctors Health and Wellbeing Leadership Alliance (NLA) Professor Steve Robson is launching an action plan on Friday under the government-supported National Doctors Health & Wellbeing initiative.
"Our medical workforce is experiencing unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety and burnout. The impacts on individual doctors, and trainees, are harmful for them, and the patients they care for," Professor Robson said.
"We need system-wide change and the implementation of policies and frameworks that support the psychosocial health and safety of medical professionals."
The plan to be launched at a summit in Sydney includes targets areas such increasing the capacity of the sector to respond to doctors and medical trainees needing mental health support.
It comes at a critical time after the mass resignation of NSW public-sector psychiatrists, part of a group of more than 200 who previously signalled plans to quit.
A report by the The Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation Victoria last year found a shocking nine out of 10 junior doctors in the state were worried about making mistakes due to burnout and fatigue.
Australian Medical Association President Dr Danielle McMullen called on organisations in the health sector and policymakers to commit to the plan.
"We need to create environments that support wellbeing and enable quality patient care," she said.
