The high suicide rate among dentists is one of the darker clouds in the industry. A good starting point when answering such questions is to address how you cope with stress and maintain your mental balance, health, and overall well-being. That could include meditation, fitness, finding peace outdoors, or diving into a hobby. Show your interviewers you are proactive and well prepared to handle those sobering issues associated with a dental career. If you have personal experiences with suicide in your life, offer your story as an example of how you are less at risk.
Some of the risk factors dentists face in their careers are feelings of job-related isolation, especially when owning your own practice and lacking colleagues to commiserate with, or when your working environment is a confining space, such as a small windowless treatment room. Others find the work demanding and suffer feelings of a lack of appreciation. That can lead to job dissatisfaction, elevated stress, and burning out, among other contributing factors.
By asking this question, the interviewers are not only trying to make sure that you are aware of this fact; they are also trying to ensure that you have strong stress management skills. By exhibiting that you have a plan in place, you'll come across as proactive and determined to succeed.
