Your mental health matters

Get support at Salem Health and in Oregon

In honor of Physician Suicide Awareness Day, which was Wednesday, Sept. 17, we want to take a moment to highlight the importance of mental health, especially within our medical community. The demands of health care providers can be overwhelming, and it's vital that we continue to support one another — not just today, but every day.

Your mental health matters

Caring for others begins with caring for ourselves. Whether you're a physician, nurse, technician or part of the broader patient care team, your well-being is essential. We encourage open conversations about mental health, early recognition of burnout and seeking help without hesitation.

The numbers

• Physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. Each year in the U.S., roughly 300 to 400 physicians die by suicide.
• Astoundingly, suicide deaths are 250 to 400% higher among female physicians when compared to females in other professions.
• More than half of physicians and medical students know of a physician or colleague who has ever considered, attempted or died by suicide. While there are some signs of improvement, the overall state of well-being remains low, with residents and medical students reporting an even lower state of well-being.
• For the fourth year in a row, six in 10 physicians often have feelings of burnout, compared to four in 10 before the pandemic in 2018.
• Nearly two-thirds of medical students report withdrawing from family, friends and/or co-workers, as well as 54% of residents and 38% of physicians.

IS PATH WARM

Warning signs of suicide include the acronym IS PATH WARM:

• I: Ideation
• S: Substance abuse
• P: Purposelessness
• A: Anxiety
• T: Trapped
• H: Hopelessness
• W: Withdrawal
• A: Anger
• R: Recklessness
• M: Mood changes.

Recognizing these warning signs is the first step toward prevention.

Get support at Salem Health

At Salem Heath, we have our peer support team, Canopy wellness programs and resiliency advocates — all confidential and protected resources that are free and available to our medical staff. Additionally, Oregon Suicide Prevention is a resource available to health care providers with tools and webinars. Learn more here.

Get support in Oregon

There are many organizations in Oregon working together to prevent suicide in our communities. Here are organizations throughout our state offering resources and aid:

• Lines for Life
• Oregon Health Authority Suicide Prevention
• Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Peer Galaxy

Reach out if you or someone you know is struggling

We urge each of you to prioritize your well-being, be mindful of your mental health and reach out if you or someone you know is struggling. Together, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health and build a community of support.

Let’s honor this day by committing to daily wellness and mental health awareness — every day matters.

Learn more

National Physician Suicide Awareness Day is a reminder and call to action. It’s a time to talk — and to act — so physicians’ struggles don’t become mental health emergencies. Prevention begins with learning the signs, starting conversations, removing intrusive mental health questions and sharing the resources that can help those in distress seek mental health care.

While this day centers on physicians, the message and resources apply to everyone on the patient care team — nurses, support staff and more. Mental health matters for all of us. Learn more at NPSADay.org.