1 in 10 Physicians Sought Mental Health Care
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by Kerri Miller
November 18, 2025
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4 min
9 Key Takeaways
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1
Over 10% of Ontario physicians sought MHSU care from 2003-202
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2
MHSU visit rates remained stable until COVID-1
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3
Anxiety disorders were the top reason for visits.
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4
MHSU visits peaked during the pandemic at 1
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5
2%.
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6
Psychiatrists had the highest utilization at 28%.
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7
The study involved 29,662 physicians.
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8
It was co-authored by Maya A. Gibb, MPH.
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9
Limitations included inability to distinguish between cohorts and excluding some healthcare provider visits.
Research from the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that over 10% of Ontario physicians sought mental health or substance use care annually between 2003 and 2022, with substantial increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study involving 29,662 physicians showed stable MHSU visit rates prior to the pandemic but a rise from 12.1% pre-pandemic to 15.2% during the pandemic. Anxiety disorders were the most common reason for visits, affecting 8.4% of physicians. Specialty-based variations were notable, with psychiatrists having the highest utilization.
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