The American Dental Association (ADA), along with 66 other organizations, is urging Congress to pass legislation focused on reducing occupational burnout, mental stress, and suicide among healthcare professionals.
Named after Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency physician who died by suicide in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the bipartisan bill was initially authorized in 2022. It remains the first and only federal law dedicated to preventing suicide and reducing burnout and stress among healthcare professionals.
In a letter dated March 18, the coalition emphasized that further work is needed. Reauthorizing the bill, they argued, would ensure that hospitals, health systems, and other healthcare organizations can continue, expand, and build upon the successful initiatives funded by the legislation. It would also expand grants and contracts eligibility to include entities focused on reducing administrative burdens on healthcare workers.
Mental health and healthcare workers
A 2023 study highlighted that suicide rates among healthcare workers were significantly higher than those in other professions. Healthcare support workers had the highest suicide rates at 21.4 deaths per 100,000, followed by registered nurses (16.0), health technicians (15.6), and physicians (13.1). Non-healthcare workers had a rate of 12.6 per 100,000.
The median age of those studied was 44, with most individuals aged between 35 and 53. Female representation varied: 32.4% of physicians were female, compared to 91.1% of registered nurses.
Dr. Breen, who had treated COVID-19 patients and recovered from the virus herself, tragically died at 49, fitting the study’s demographics.
The groups stressed the need to prioritize the mental health of healthcare professionals, advocating for access to necessary services without fear of losing licensure, income, or facing other career setbacks.
