The Physician Suicide Epidemic within the COVID-1919 Pandemic
Physician suicide it exists, it’s real and you are NOT alone. An epidemic in the medical profession that has been present since the 1800s yet remains a hush hush topic which is covered up or swept under the rug by its own healthcare system which is expected to render care. The “Pandemic Pandora’s Box” has erupted wide open in the midst of COVID-19-19 exposing insufficiencies in the healthcare system, human rights violations against medical professionals and related suicide deaths. How did we get here? What can we do?
Despite physicians being at high risk for mental illness, physician suicide or attempted suicides do not get much attention. Even in my experience as a Medical Staff President of an 8 hospital system, when such an incident occurred there was a not large announcement, it was not memorialized. Some institutions have gone even farther. In New York City, COVID-19 related deaths of medical residents were allegedly covered up with gag orders (nondisclosure agreements).
COVID-19 has presented those on the frontlines with new challenges as healthcare workers are dealing with a virus without consulting textbook guidelines and parameters.
In this episode of Licensed To Live we talk with Dr. Pamela Wible, a physician suicide advocate who started her journey after her own suicidal ideation and wondered why all her friends were dying. She goes on to tell us that after studying nearly 1400 physician deaths by suicide, there are root causes that are solvable.
Healthcare workers are used to being abused in healthcare; normal and just accept it and don’t exercise their rights or call it out; other industries such as pilots and truck drivers have regulations in place to promote and ensure safety. So why is a profession that invokes care letting their own fall?
Regarding the lack of PPE and healthcare workers such as an N95 intended for single being used for a week while performing intubations/codes and going from patient to patient, that’s equivalent to asking a prostitute to use the same condom all week, is that what we want in our hospitals?
What can we do?
- Reach out! Talk to someone, you are not alone. Contact the Suicide Help Hotline.
- Work Together – Work as a collective group and advocate for changes in practice and bring attention to the suicide crisis.
- DOCUMENT and Tell, Record your story!
Check out Licensed To live and if you need to speak with me at any time make an appointment at www.timewithdoctorjarret.com
