Supporting Physicians on Physician Suicide Awareness Day

September 17 marks the day of National Physician Suicide Awareness (#NPSADay). This day is a reminder of the toll suicide has on our peers. The recent numbers are sobering: physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. More than half of physicians know a physician peer who has considered, attempted, or died by suicide in their career. One in five physicians and residents, and one in four medical students know of a colleague/peer who has considered suicide in the past year. The toll of physician suicide is significant to our communities at large — with an estimated one million Americans losing their physician to suicide each year. 

CommonSpirit Health is committed to the well-being of our physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs). 

Since 2022, CommonSpirit Health has been an active Supporting Organization for NPSA Day, committing to shedding light on the physician and APP suicide epidemic and rallying physicians, APPs, their peers, and families to establish a well-being-centric atmosphere. We’re proud to take action to prevent physician and APP suicide by sharing resources to help improve physician wellbeing, including suicide prevention resources, tips for starting important conversations about mental health, a crisis management plan and more. Our goal is to combat depression, enhance professional fulfillment, and impactfully promote the acceptance of seeking mental health services as a symbol of empowerment. 

In partnership with several cross functional CommonSpirit teams, the Physician Enterprise has led multiple programs focused on optimizing clinical care delivery, building a sense of community, and peer support training. We also continue to explore ways to extend programming in content and audience.

Key CommonSpirit Health Programs for physicians and APPs

Peer Support Program

Peer supporters are physicians and APPs who provide emotional assistance in times of distress to fellow physicians and APPs. There are more than 400 peer supporters trained across all regions at CommonSpirit.

Peer supporters create a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental space for their peers to share experiences, while providing effective coping strategies and navigating peers towards further resources. 

Commensality: Building Community and Connectedness

Commensality, or the act of sharing a meal, fosters positive social interactions by

bringing together a group of physicians and APPs to discuss a theme or topic while breaking bread. Coming together over a meal assists physicians and APPs in affirming their commonalities and shared experiences.

Research has consistently shown that informed actions and steps can be taken to raise awareness and prevent suicide. These steps include learning the “vital signs” of colleagues at-risk, starting the conversations, understanding the barriers, and sharing the resources that can help those in distress seek mental health care.

Together, we can build bridges to a system that supports the well-being of our physicians and APPs, and is willing to help them seek mental health care. 

If you are in crisis or know someone in crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services provide 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.