This is the first in a series of content that will be shared in the coming weeks focusing on the mental health of health care workers.
Dear Physicians and APPs,
Dr. Joseph Stothert tragically lost his life to suicide last month. When a clinician colleague dies by suicide, it can bring up many confusing and contradictory thoughts and feelings in survivors. It can trigger our own sense of vulnerability to depression, anxiety, and other common mental health concerns that ordinarily we may be able to suppress or deny, but now cannot ignore. That can be stressful for health care providers, who are used to healing others but not so familiar with accepting help from other professionals. However, it’s clear that asking for and receiving needed mental health care can be lifesaving and career saving.
If you are feeling depressed, or anxious in the aftermath of a colleague’s suicide, know that there is help. Don’t suffer in silence. You have given hope and healing to many others; please be willing to accept help when you need it.
Internal Resources
Peers in Need of Support (PINS) program (Nebraska Medicine and UNMC only)
- Confidential 1:1 support from a trained colleague
- Email PINS@Nebraskamed.com or complete this confidential form.
Arbor Family Counseling
- EAP for Nebraska Medicine and UNMC
- 402-330-0960 or 1-800-922-7379
- Arborfamilycounseling.com
External Resources
Metro Omaha Medical Society
- Provider wellness assessment
- Confidential mental health screening
- Free telepsychiatry services
- For physicians across Nebraska
- Free support and coaching from other specially trained physicians
- Helps physicians deal with job stress, work/life balance, difficult life issues, etc.
Suicide Prevention Helpline
- 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals
- 1-800-273-8255
Key Facts about Suicide
- Reactions to suicide are varied, including disbelief, self-blame, guilt, shame, blaming, anger, fear, feeling abandoned/rejected and sometimes relief
- Human beings have a need to understand what happened
- Human beings need opportunities to grieve
It is okay to not be okay, and it is okay to get help. We care about you and are here for you.
Sincerely,
Steve Wengel, MD, assistant vice chancellor for wellness, UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Sarah Richards, MD, senior medical director, Care Experience, Nebraska Medicine
Lindsay Gage, MD, medical staff president, Nebraska Medical Center