In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month, and in promotion of clinician well-being, The Arnold P. Gold Foundation is dedicating the month of September to the creative expression, education, storytelling, and wellness of students and healthcare professionals. Did you know that 15%-30% of medical students and residents screen positive for depressive symptoms?[i] Did you know that physicians are at risk of suicide at approximately twice the rate of the general population?[ii]
As part of this essential conversation about physician burnout, we would love to hear from you. Has there been a time in your career – as a student, a resident, or a practicing physician – when you have struggled with feelings of depression or burnout? How have you been able to address these challenges? Has your membership in the Gold Humanism Honor Society, or your participation in another Gold Foundation program, helped you navigate a particularly difficult time in your career? Have you helped a friend or colleague during such difficult times?
We’re interested in hearing and sharing your stories, along with any strategies or resources that you have found helpful. No one is alone in these challenges, and sharing stories can help ease feelings of isolation.
Please share your story by emailing our staff here, or, if you feel comfortable, you can share in our Facebook forum, which is exclusive to GHHS members. Please note that by submitting your story, you are giving the Gold Foundation permission to share it in the future. All submissions will remain anonymous, unless you explicitly state that we can use your name.
