YOU ARE NOT AS ALONE AS YOU MIGHT FEEL

You have been trained to think that if you cannot come up with a solution, then there is no solution.

So If you've made a medical error that harmed a patient
Or are threatened with malpractice
Or suffered financial ruin
Or did something illegal
Or are in financial ruin
Or simply are overwhelmed with the vicarious
or first-hand trauma you experience in medicine
...
You might think that ending your life will solve your problems.
But this is faulty programming.

You are not the only one who has faced overwhelming challenges and emerged alive. There are always other options

Your life does matter to other people:
our family, your patients, your colleagues.

​​You have tremendous potential for taking action. After all, you made it through medical school.

National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
Shine a Light. Speak its name.
September 17, 2022

NPSA Day Resources, Social Media Posts, and Events - Vital Signs NPSA Day |  NPSA Day - CORDEM.ORG
2022 is the fifth year of this event committed to honoring the memory of our colleagues who have died by suicide and to continue to raise awareness and discussion on how to prevent it.  This year, NPSA day will focus on the six months prior to September on six actions that can be taken to heighten awareness around suicide Prevention and awareness. Download the Toolkit here.

The Federation of State PHPs' December 2020 training on suicide awareness and prevention is available until 2023 as a free resource, unless CME is desired then it is $50. - https://www.fsphp.org/physician-suicide-prevention 

​A toolkit of social media and other resources to promote conversations about suicide during National Suicide Prevention Week, September 5-11 from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - https://afsp.org/national-suicide-prevention-week ​

Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline

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National Suicide Hotline - 988 Coming Summer 2022

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022. 

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.

​The current Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched nationally.

Identifying At-Risk Physicians

AMA's StepsForward provides a checklist for helping identify physicians who may be at risk of suicide, helping facilitate access to appropriate care, and answering common questions about physician distress and suicidal behavior.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has a full page of resources around physician suicidality, including links to toolkits for medical schools and residency programs for suicide post-vention (which could be adapted at a hospital or health system level).

Helping At-Risk Physicians

How to Reach Out to a Colleague in Distress
Dr. Dike Drummond from TheHappyMD.com shares this five minute video and walks you through some tips on how to reach out to a fellow physician or other human in distress.

Vital Signs by The Physicians Foundation
This project lists five vital signs to watch for in colleagues and has a nice conversation tips sheet on having a difficult conversation with somebody you recognize is struggling..

What to say to a colleague who is suicidal
Question - Persuade - Refer
QUESTION the person about suicide and don't be vague: "Have you ever had thoughts, feelings, or plans about ending your life?" There is a common misconception that by asking about it, you increase the risk and statistics show the exact opposite.
PERSUADE the person to get help. Remember to listen carefully and without judgment and then say, "Let me help" or "Come with me to find help!" Once you are on notice, you need to take responsibility and you're GOOD at this because your medical training has taught you how. Remind them that they are not the only ones that have ever felt this.
REFER for to resources which can help and make a warm hand-off. Make the call to the suicide prevention hotline together,  help them make an EAP appointment, reach out to a peer-to-peer program, or the Physician Vitality Program. If they are in imminent danger, do not leave them: call 9-1-1 or take them to the hospital. Follow-up and find out what steps they are taking to get healthy.

Ada County Medical Society Director Steven Reames is QPR Gatekeeper Training Certified and can provide this for your healthcare institution. Inquire at the email in the footer.