Beyond Burnout: Reframing Mental Health in Gynecologic Oncology | Mental Health Awareness Month
In gynecologic oncology, caring for others is part of the calling. But as the demands on physicians and affiliated providers continue to intensify, one reality is becoming harder to ignore: the mental health needs of the workforce require the same urgency, compassion, and evidence-based approach that clinicians bring to patient care every day.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) is reaffirming its commitment to advancing open dialogue, reducing stigma, and supporting meaningful solutions that prioritize provider well-being across every stage of career development.
The conversation around physician wellness is not new. But recent data from the SGO 2025 State of the Society Survey and research conducted by Rebekah M. Summey, MD, point to a deeper issue that extends beyond burnout alone: many gynecologic oncology professionals are experiencing significant psychological distress while facing persistent barriers to accessing care.
The Mental Health Challenge We Can No Longer Afford to Minimize
The latest wellness findings from the SGO 2025 State of the Society Survey underscore how persistent and widespread these challenges remain. Approximately 40% of gynecologic oncologists screened positive for depression in 2025, including 42% of women and 39% of men. At the same time, burnout rates increased significantly from 34% in 2020 to 45% in 2025, with women reporting substantially higher levels of burnout than men (51% versus 34%).
The survey also found that most gynecologic oncologists reported feeling overly stressed or that life was unmanageable, including 64% of women and 44% of men. Yet only 17% of women and 12% of men reported seeking psychiatric help within the past 12 months.
These findings reinforce concerns that psychological distress remains both prevalent and undertreated across the specialty.
The data also revealed increases in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, two core indicators measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Rates of high emotional exhaustion rose from 26% to 38%, while depersonalization increased from 21% to 26% between 2020 and 2025.
At the same time, the survey highlighted an important counterbalance: despite mounting pressures, respondents continued to report a strong sense of personal accomplishment, with 85% overall describing high levels of professional fulfillment.
Those findings paint a more nuanced picture of wellness in gynecologic oncology. Many clinicians remain deeply committed to their work and patients while simultaneously navigating significant mental and emotional strain.
In Dr. Summey’s research, participants demonstrated higher-than-expected levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Women respondents reported the highest rates of depression and anxiety, reflecting trends identified in other groups of women physicians.
“Nine percent of survey respondents reported suicidal ideation in the past year, 3% said they were uncomfortable answering the question despite the anonymity of the survey, and 1% skipped the question,” Dr. Summey explained. “These data highlight current suffering and thus an opportunity for improvement.”
For healthcare professionals accustomed to solving problems for patients, acknowledging personal mental health challenges can feel difficult. Yet behavioral science research consistently shows that normalizing conversations around mental health reduces stigma and increases the likelihood that individuals will seek support earlier.
That matters because silence often delays care.
Moving the Conversation Beyond Burnout
Terms like “burnout” and “wellness” have become common in healthcare conversations. But Dr. Summey believes the field must move beyond surface-level strategies and address the practical realities that prevent providers from accessing mental healthcare.
“While sleep, meditation, and exercise may be helpful in the management of psychiatric symptoms, they are not substitutes for medication or therapy,” she said. “I have always been bothered when I read articles regarding physician burnout that report high depression or suicidality rates but fail to include facilitation of mental healthcare as proposed interventions.”
Her research identified several recurring barriers to care:
- Lack of time
- Limited appointment availability
- High costs or inadequate insurance coverage
- Self-stigma and perceived external stigma
“It is my opinion that the combination of these factors results in a higher barrier than any of them alone,” Dr. Summey noted. “To paraphrase responses, ‘the only therapist or psychiatrist covered by my insurance has time available Monday and Thursday mornings, when I currently have other responsibilities, and I don’t feel comfortable asking for time for these appointments—or if I do, it’s not prioritized.’”
These barriers are not simply individual obstacles. They are system-level challenges that influence whether clinicians feel psychologically safe seeking care.
What Meaningful Support Can Look Like
SGO continues to invest in provider well-being through initiatives including the SGO Wellness Curriculum for fellows, wellness-focused webinars, and the 2023 review, “System-level recommendations for improved wellness for gynecologic oncologists.”
But sustainable progress also depends on culture.
“One of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s suggested strategies to reduce stigma surrounding mental health concerns is open and honest conversation,” Dr. Summey said. “The more that direct mention of mental health, and words like ‘depression,’ ‘panic attacks,’ and ‘suicide prevention’ are included in these resources, the better the stigma reduction.”
Behavioral science reinforces this approach. Research shows that people are more likely to engage with support systems when they see peers and leaders modeling openness and vulnerability. In medicine, where perfectionism and self-reliance are often deeply ingrained, visible leadership around mental health can help shift norms across departments and institutions.
Dr. Summey envisions a future in which wellness is integrated into the structure of the profession rather than treated as an afterthought.
“In a wellness-oriented field, scheduling flexibility may allow for appointments during business hours, outdoor recreation during daylight, or weekend family event attendance,” she explained. “Since stigma exists, allowing flexibility with minimal questions asked may be helpful.”
She also emphasized the importance of fostering environments grounded in camaraderie, inclusion, and nonjudgmental support.
Small Actions Can Change Culture
Creating a healthier professional environment does not always require sweeping institutional change. Sometimes, it starts with one conversation.
“Recognize the importance of your own mental health,” Dr. Summey encouraged. “If you’re comfortable, discuss this with your colleagues or trainees. See if your openness leads to increased comfort from others over time. If you notice an opening to support coworkers’ well-being by covering a responsibility, supporting a need, or providing emotional support, do it.”
For healthcare professionals, small moments of support can have outsized impact. A flexible schedule adjustment. Coverage for an appointment. A candid check-in with a colleague. These actions help create a culture where seeking help feels acceptable rather than exceptional.
Continuing the Conversation
Mental Health Awareness Month is an important reminder that supporting the gynecologic oncology workforce requires more than awareness alone. It requires ongoing action, honest dialogue, and systems that make mental healthcare accessible without shame or unnecessary barriers.
SGO remains committed to advancing resources, education, and conversations that support the well-being of gynecologic oncology professionals.
For additional wellness resources and mental health support, visit SGO Wellness resources at sgo.org/wellness.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.