MSDC President Reminds Physicians They Are Not Alone In the Fight Against Physician Suicide September 17, 2022

Washington, D.C., September 17, 2022 — Today, National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (NPSA Day), the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) calls attention to a pressing problem in medicine: the need to shift the health care system from one where physicians think burnout, depression or suicidal thoughts are something they must overcome by themselves to one where they see the support system around them. As a NPSA Day Supporting Organization, MSDC provides a support system for District physicians through its Healthy Physician Foundation, which was dedicated to addressing and preventing moral injury in the physician population specifically in the DC area.  Year-round support, counseling, and guidance to alleviate the factors leading to physician suicide are available at healthyphysician.org.   

As the country moves further from the onset of the pandemic, physicians are still facing the same issues they were a year ago: six in 10 feel inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness or anxiety; one-third feel hopeless or that they have no purpose and nearly half report withdrawing from family, friends and co-workers. These feelings can lead to burnout and, when left untreated, can cause more cases of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and lead to suicidal thoughts for physicians, directly impacting physician suicide rates. To facilitate critical social bonds, MSDC offers physician communities centered on common interests and goals, as well as an array of physician-oriented events.

Physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. More than half of physicians know a physician who has either considered, attempted or died by suicide in their career. It’s estimated that one million Americans lose their physician to suicide each year.

“Physician suicide is a tragedy that shouldn’t exist,” according to MSDC President Dr. Kirstiaan Nevin. “We must do more to erase stigma and structural barriers which impede physician wellbeing.”  Physicians have identified who and what supports their mental health—confidential therapy, counseling or support phone lines. District physicians can access mental health resources for immediate and ongoing physician support at healthyphysician.org. Structural barriers also place physicians at risk and there are 12 evidence-based wellbeing actions identified to support physicians. However, a Physicians Foundation survey suggests that despite this knowledge, health systems, payers, and medical boards are not implementing necessary changes.  

MSDC President Dr. Kirstiaan Nevin has an important message on NPSA Day.  “Physicians,” she says, “there is no shame in seeking help and heeding your mental health. MSDC has confidential counseling and dedicated resources to support your mental health. Remember, you are not alone.”

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Media Contact:
Pia Duryea
Medical Society of the District of Columbia
duryea@msdc.org   
(202) 355-9414

About the Medical Society of the District of Columbia
With almost 3,200 members, the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing metropolitan Washington physicians in the District of Columbia. The Medical Society, founded in 1817, is the leading voice of medicine and public health advocate on issues impacting the diverse population of our Nation’s Capital. MSDC is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of physicians and their patients in metropolitan Washington and making the District the best place to practice medicine. For more information, visit msdc.org.


About the Healthy Physician Foundation
The Healthy Physician Foundation is an affiliated 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to addressing and preventing moral injury in the physician population, with a specific focus in the DC area. This organization exists to provide programs, resources, and community to a profession overwhelmed and overburdened by stress. Learn more at https://healthyphysician.org.

About National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (#NPSADay) 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 the conversations, understanding and removing the underlying barriers and sharing the resources that can help those in distress seek mental health care. National Physician Suicide Awareness Day is an annual event that takes place on September 17, with a mission to break down the culture of silence around physician mental health. Learn more at NPSADay.org.