The Physicians Foundation Releases 2025 Wellbeing Survey: Stress and Anxiety Surge During a Tumultuous Year in Medicine
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The Physicians Foundation 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
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.
