Can depressed doctors get emotional support without risking their license? Is confidential mental health care even possible?
I just got this email from a physician:
“Hi Pamela, Wondering if I could curbside you on the topic of seeking mental health services as a physician.
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In memory of Kaitlyn Elkins, a “successful” medical student at the top of her class, who died by suicide due to perfectionism, loneliness & untreated depression.
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Nine years ago today my friend’s “happy” daughter died by suicide—due to perfectionism and loneliness.
In her mother’s words:
“Dear Pamela, On 4-11-13, I lost my 23-year-old, brilliant daughter Kaitlyn Elkins to suicide. She was just beginning her 3rd year of medical school at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem,
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September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Join us for daily retreats—intimate curated groups of 8 people—who will support you in this time of unprecedented fear and divisiveness. Retreats are 100% confidential, safe & always nonjudgmental. All are welcome. Most retreats are 2-3 hours via Zoom or LIVE in Oregon (in beautiful outdoor setting).
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Just off the phone with a USC Keck med student who told me he lost his classmate to suicide this week on my way to Memphis to lead a suicide postvention program for a medical group after a senior colleague killed himself. In the last decade assisting hospitals and medical schools in the aftermath of suicides,
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There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Physician-Friendly States for Mental Health: A Review of Medical Boards
Research Project by Pamela Wible, M.D., and Arianna Palermini, OMS2
© Copyright 2019
Read updated version of article (& download PDF) in peer-review journal dedicated to physician mental health.
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Enjoy the keynote I delivered today at University of Pittsburgh for the Coalition of Pre-Health Students Annual Summit. Listen in to full audio (and enjoy edited transcript with slides below):
Lindsey Gorman: Dr. Wible is a family physician born into a family of physicians.
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(Listen in above to a rerecorded keynote—due to a fire alarm during event—or read transcript of Dr. Wible’s presentation below)
Michael Phillips MD: Good morning everybody. I want to introduce the lectureship and remind everybody who Gil was.
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Dr. Wible’s keynote delivered at the 19th Annual Chicago Orthopaedic Symposium (begins with a beautiful legacy to the life of Dr. Dean Lorich by Dr. Matthew Jimenez). Downloadable MP3 above.
Thank you. I’m truly honored to be here and extremely grateful that you have given me more than 10 minutes to discuss doctor suicide.
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Joey Johnson: We are honored to introduce our keynote speakers, Dr. Pamela Wible and Robyn Symon. Dr. Wible speaks widely on healthcare delivery and is a best-selling author of Physician Suicide Letters—Answered. When not treating patients Dr. Wible devotes herself to medical student and physician suicide prevention.
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This week a distraught mother calls me about her son. His professor (at a US med school) repeatedly tells medical students they are “too stupid to be doctors and should kill themselves.”
A physician friend shares that the same guy tells his internal medicine residents weekly (for 3 years!) that they are stupid and “should kill themselves.” Even bullies other instructors.
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This FREE audiobook of Physician Suicide Letters—Answered, read by the author Dr. Pamela Wible, is dedicated to all medical students, to every child who has ever dreamed of being a doctor, and to all those who have lost their lives in pursuit of healing others.
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Dear Dr. Wible,
As you know I lost my son Sean Petro on Mother’s Day 2016 but he wasn’t found until two days later.
From the moment Sean was found by USC/Keck police in his apartment I have been treated by his medical school like a person with no feelings.
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Do depressed doctors go to doctors? Do they even seek help? What do depressed doctors do when they’re not helping you? Doctors have affairs. They drink alcohol and smoke pot. They steal prescription medications. They binge-eat crap, scream, and exercise obsessively. Depressed doctors contemplate suicide. They hide their feelings to prevent being punished by licensing boards or mistreated by “Physician Health Programs.” Fact: depression is an occupational hazard in medicine.
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Doctor revived after suicide. Here's what he says.
