September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, and several resources are available to support physicians and patients at risk of suicide. The American Medical Association (AMA) has released a toolkit that helps identify and support at-risk physicians. For those working with patients, the AMA also provides guidance for practices and systems to identify and treat individuals at risk of suicide, including advice tailored for children and adolescents.
The AMA has updated its STEPS Forward toolkit, titled “Assessment of Clinician Burnout: Construct a Process to Measure Burnout and Improve Well-Being.” This resource offers six steps with practical actions that organizations and leaders can use to help protect physicians from the harmful effects of work-related stress.
In Colorado, the Doc2Doc Wellbeing Consulting Program is available through a partnership between the Colorado Medical Society and the Colorado Physician Health Program. The program offers three free, one-hour confidential pre-clinical peer wellbeing consultation sessions for any physician or medical student in Colorado. To access these services, individuals can call 720-810-9131 to speak with a masters-level licensed clinician and arrange a confidential follow-up with a peer physician. According to the announcement, “All calls are confidential to the fullest extent of the law.”
Educational resources are also being promoted during National Suicide Prevention Month. People are encouraged to learn about warning signs and risk factors for suicide, ways to support someone who may be considering suicide, and information about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
