70. Preventing Physician Suicide Part 1: Recognizing You Are At Risk - The First-Person Experience of Suicidal Ideation

Physicians On Purpose®️

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We kick off a seriously important three-part series that tackles something we all need to talk about more - preventing physician suicide. This week, I'm sitting down with two remarkable guests and I.C.F.-certified coaches on our team at TheHappyMD.com, Dr. Penelope Hsu and Dr. Pam Pappas.

We discuss the often-ignored topic of recognizing your own suicidal ideations and the immense implications it can bring along. Both Dr. Hsu and Dr. Pappas hold nothing back as they share their personal experiences with suicidal ideation and burnout. Their stories remind us why it's crucial for wellness leaders to show vulnerability, and to use their platforms as stages to empower others in their struggles.

"I think It is far more common than we think. Isolation is the thing that keeps us from acknowledging it within ourselves, of getting support, of sharing, of leaning on anyone. My hope would be that people can hear our stories and realize it doesn't mean you're weak. It doesn't mean you're broken. It just means you're human." - Penelope Hsu MD

"Things are going on inside us all the time that may look very different on the surface and how other people see us. We know that physicians are extremely well-versed in trying to look more together than they actually feel. And the code of silence around depression and suicidality is extremely strong in our culture at large, but I think even more so in physicians because there are a lot of implications." - Pam Pappas MD

Episode highlights:

• The link between burnout and suicidal thoughts
• Dr. Pam’s story: burnout, trauma, and the power of a listening ear
• Dr. Penny’s story: isolation, creative calling, and the road back to medicine
• Suicide statistics in medical students and physicians

Resources: Physician Support Line https://www.physiciansupportline.com/ 888-409-0141

Connect with Dr. Hsu: Book a Discovery Session with Dr. Hsu: https://www.thehappymd.com/physician-coach-penelope-hsu-md

Website: https://drpenelopehsu.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelope-hsu-3796395/

Connect with Dr. Pappas:

Book a Discovery Session with Dr. Pappas: https://www.thehappymd.com/physician-coach-pam-pappas

Website: https://drpampappas.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pampappasmd/

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/zC_YanMxQCk

Learn more about Dr. Dike and The Happy MD: https://linktr.ee/dikedrummond

Contact Dr. Drummond Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone] Web contact form: https://www.thehappymd.com/contact