In October 2002, a planning group of 15 experts from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) concluded that the culture of medicine must place a higher priority on physician mental health to effectively address untreated mood disorders and an increased burden of suicide. Present barriers to physicians obtaining treatment include jeopardizing medical licensure, hospital privileges, and professional advancement. Before these barriers can be overcome, the authors recommend transforming physician attitudes and changing institutional policies to facilitate treatment rather than penalizing physicians who seek help. Improved recognition of mental illness and access to treatment for physicians should ultimately result in better patient care. Statistics cited in the consensus statement include lifetime prevalence rates for self-reported depression in medical school graduates of 12.8% for men and 19.5% for women, which are similar to those in the general population. Only 22% of medical students who screened positive for depression used mental health services, and only 42% with suicidal ideation received treatment. Characteristics associated with increased risk of suicide among physicians include age older than 45 years for women or 50 years for men, white race, unmarried or unhappily married, psychiatric symptoms or history, physical symptoms including chronic pain or debilitating illness, substance abuse, workaholic personality, excessive risk-taking, change in professional status, and access to medications or firearms.