Recognize long-standing mental health needs: The study shows that physician mental health concerns predate the pandemic, highlighting the importance of proactively monitoring your own wellbeing rather than waiting for acute stressors.

Normalize seeking support: With more than 1 in 10 physicians accessing mental health or substance use care annually—and even higher rates in some specialties—seeking help is common and should be viewed as a routine part of career longevity.

Watch for rising conditions such as anxiety and ADHD: Anxiety-related visits increased significantly during the pandemic, and ADHD-related visits were already trending upward. Physicians may benefit from early identification and tailored support strategies.

Understand specialty-specific patterns: Utilization varied widely by specialty, suggesting that workplace environments and stress profiles differ; physicians can advocate for specialty-appropriate resources and peer support.