As anger and stress increase to pandemic levels, there is an urgent need to ensure physicians have the support to address mental health

BOSTON, September 17, 2025 — The Physicians Foundation today announced findings from its 2025 Wellbeing Survey of America’s Physicians, revealing a troubling paradox: while reported burnout has declined from last year, physicians’ stress and anxiety have risen to levels not seen since the height of the pandemic. The Foundation’s latest version of its survey, 2025 Survey of America’s Physicians, also showed that physicians continue to face mounting challenges that exacerbate burnout, including stigma and structural barriers surrounding mental health care access. In recognition of National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (NPSA Day), The Physicians Foundation and The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation continue their call for systemic change through Vital Signs: The Campaign to Prevent Physician Suicide.

Throughout 2025, the U.S. healthcare landscape has been reshaped by significant changes: ongoing consolidation in healthcare, evolving reimbursement models, the widespread rise of mis- and disinformation, and major leadership and policy shifts within agencies, such as HHS, CDC, and NIH, affecting physicians’ ability to deliver cost-effective, high-quality care and transforming how physicians practice and engage with their patients. The Foundation’s latest survey on physician wellbeing showcases the impact on physicians.

Key Survey Findings:

• 57% of physicians felt inappropriate anger, tearfulness or anxiety in the past year—levels similar to 2021–2022.
• 46% withdrew from family, friends or co-workers, up from 38% last year.
• 34% felt hopeless or without purpose, up from ~30% last year and consistent with rates in 2023 and earlier (34–35%).
• More than half of physicians have felt levels of debilitating stress (55%).
• While a majority of physicians still report they often have feelings of burnout, this proportion declined significantly this year (from 60% to 54%).
• More than seven in 10 (73%) agree that there is stigma surrounding mental health and seeking mental health care among physicians, declining from 8 in 10 reporter last year.

“This year has been filled with substantial shake-ups to the healthcare community and we are seeing the impact on the wellbeing of our physicians,” said Dr. Gary Price, president of The Physicians Foundation. “Even as burnout shows signs of easing, the rising tide of stress and anxiety we’re hearing from physicians is deeply concerning. This isn’t just about clinician morale—it’s about patient access, care quality and the long-term stability of our healthcare system. Physicians are navigating relentless administrative burdens, staffing shortages and mounting complexity in care delivery, all of which erode the time and energy they can dedicate to patients.”

The path forward begins with proactive, system-level efforts to strengthen physician wellbeing, reduce the risk of tragic outcomes and sustain a healthy, effective workforce. The Physicians Foundation and the Dr. Lorna Breen Hereos’ Foundation urge healthcare stakeholders to prioritize systemic solutions that reduce administrative burden, support mental health access without punitive repercussions and establish cultures where physicians can seek care without stigma.

“Physicians are beginning to feel the impact of changes designed to support their mental health, and it’s encouraging to see signs that burnout is easing,” said Dr. Stefanie Simmons, chief medical officer at the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. “At the same time, the surge in stress and anxiety to near‑pandemic levels this year is an urgent warning: we must double down on systemic reforms that reduce administrative burden, ensure confidential, stigma‑free access to mental health care and foster practice environments that truly prioritize clinician wellbeing. When we sustain these changes, we not only protect our physicians—we strengthen patient access and improve the quality of care across our healthcare system.”

Read the full survey results and methodology here. Learn more and access the resources and solutions mentioned at NPSADay.org. 

This information is intended for educational purposes only. If you or someone you know may be in a crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 

About The Physicians Foundation

The Physicians Foundation is a public charity seeking to advance the work of practicing physicians and improve patient access to high-quality, cost-efficient care. As the U.S. health care system continues to evolve, The Physicians Foundation is steadfast in strengthening the physician-patient relationship, supporting medical practices’ sustainability and helping physicians navigate the changing health care system. The Physicians Foundation pursues its mission through research, education and innovative grant making that improves physician wellbeing, strengthens physician leadership, addresses drivers of health and lifts physician perspectives. For more information, visit www.physiciansfoundation.org

About The Physicians Foundation’s 2025 Survey of America’s Physicians

Each year, The Physicians Foundation assesses physician sentiment surrounding the practice environment and patient care, so we can understand where things stand and drive change to enhance physician practice and improve patient health outcomes. In 2025, the Foundation conducted an online survey of 1,000+ U.S. physicians on the topic of wellbeing and physician burnout, who were derived from Medscape’s proprietary database. The survey was fielded from June 25 through June 30, 2025.