Helping the Helpers: Why Physicians Die by Suicide
As a culture, we often look at doctors as our everyday heroes. They are there for us in our most troubling times, helping us survive through disaster or helping us cope with the horrors of illness and what it means to be human. Doctors, in particular, have been a part of all our lives at some point. They helped us or our loved ones combat symptoms of an illness, heal our sick children and are typically the first of those around us to witness our grieving. What happens when doctors are the ones trying to battle through illness and grief themselves?
Why Physicians Die by Suicide: Lessons Learned from their Families and Others Who Cared by Dr. Michael Myers gives us insight into the realities of mental health issues in doctors. What we learn from this text is that those who are sworn by oath to "do no harm" often find themselves doing harm to themselves by not receiving adequate mental health care.
Surprisingly, there is a lot of stigma when it comes to doctors accessing professional mental health support. Whether it's therapy or medication, doctors can sometimes struggle to battle through the same stigma that the rest of us face when we encounter mental health challenges. In addition, since they are so heavily invested in the role of healer and problem solver, there is an added pressure to keep their mental health issues quiet, powering through in order to be the overachievers and perfectionists that school and training have often taught them to be. After all, in their professions lives are at stake daily. In Myers' estimation, it seems that doctors forget that their lives are at stake too.
In Why Physicians Die by Suicide: Lessons Learned from Families and Others Who Cared, Myers shares of his personal connection to suicide. He lost a young colleague, and roommate, by the name of Bill early on in his medical career to suicide. It's no doubt that this experience has influenced Myers' trajectory and passion about de-stigmatizing mental health issues for medical doctors. In his book, he also shares stories and vignettes from doctors and other family members of those who have dealt with depression and suicide. The anecdotes are staggering, and are reminiscent of some of the conversations I have with family members who have loved ones who struggle with thoughts of suicide.
It's difficult to talk about suicide in any context. Many therapists and mental health professionals struggle with that as well. This is exactly why we need a book like Why Physicians Die by Suicide. We have to continue to de-stigmatize the realities that people of all walks of life can be dealing with depressive thoughts and or suicidal thoughts and plans. Myers warns us that we also have to be particularly watchful of our doctors because they can often find very creative ways to mask their depression and other mental health challenges. As a therapist, this is an eye-opening text and will absolutely change the way that I think about my work with those in the helping professions who often find themselves giving so much to their clients and patients.
Why Physicians Die by Suicide: Lessons Learned from Families and Others Who Cared is available for purchase at most major book retailers such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
One Man's Story of Suicide
Approximately every 40 seconds someone dies of suicide around the world (source).
As a therapist, I've worked with clients who struggle with thoughts of suicide. Some even have histories of attempts. When you feel like you're constantly engulfed in the shadow of depression and hopelessness, suicide can appear to be a viable option to escape the pain and emotional turmoil. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can further attribute to the risk of suicide. Helping people work through that pain and isolation is one of the reasons I've decided to become a therapist and why I find it to be such fulfilling work.It's not often that people let us see behind the curtain of suicide, especially not in a very public forum like YouTube. When I stumbled upon the video titled "My Suicide Story" by vlogger Travis Bryant, I was struck by his honesty and willingness to share so much of his story publicly. I felt that many of you out there might be able to relate to his story of coming out and coping with thoughts of hopelessness and suicide.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, there are resources that you can reach out to that can help you RIGHT NOW. Here are a few that I think you might find helpful:
National Suicide Prevention Line: 1.800.273.8255
Trevor Project (LGBT youth and young adults): 1.866.488.7386
LIFENET (New York City): 1.800.543.3638
Trans Lifeline (for trans & gender non-conforming adults): 1.877.565.8860 (USA), 1.877.330.6366 (Canada)
You can watch Travis' story below.
Suicide Statistics at a Glance
Suicide can be seen as a very final solution to a temporary problem. The difficulty in coping with depression and suicidal thinking is that it's hopelessness can have such a firm grip on a person it may be difficult to overcome.While many people don't take steps to attempt suicide, thoughts of suicide are more common than one might think. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's statistics published in 2010:
8.3 million U.S. adults reported having suicidal thoughts in 2008-2009
2.2 million adults reported having made plans in that year
A staggering 1 million adults reported a suicide attempt that year
Youth also struggle with thoughts of suicide:
15.8% of youths reported seriously considering suicide in the previous 12 months (published in 2011)
7.8% reported they had attempted suicide one or more times in the previous year
And 2.4% of those high schoolers reported an attempt that required medical attention
Given the prevalence of suicidal thinking in our society, it is imperative that everyone educates themselves on the warnings signs of suicidal thoughts and behavior.
Below are some resources that you may find useful:
Suicide Warning Signs (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
The Warning Signs (The Trevor Project)
Suicide Prevention (HelpGuide.org)
Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
Identifying Suicidal Thoughts: How to Recognize a Friend In Crisis
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide claimed the lives of an average of 105 people per day in the United States in 2010. That's 105 people who potentially could have been saved and moved on to live better and healthier lives.
Suicide is often a complicated and extreme choice that those who are in extreme suffering make. Given the nature of suicide it is imperative that all of us as family members, loved ones, friends and partners are able to identify early on that our loved ones may be considering such a final decision to end their pain.Generally speaking, people who are suicidal often have thoughts of dying and escaping their pain through death prior to an attempt. These may even be thoughts that you have had yourself at some point. While these examples below are not an exhaustive list, here are some examples of comments that are pretty strong indicators that you (or your loved one) should get help immediately:
"I have nothing to live for.""My family would be better off without me.""I just want to end it all.""I want to go to sleep and never wake up.""I just want to die."
If someone is considering suicide, it is also likely that they will show other behaviors that are pretty solid indicators that they may be in trouble. Here are a few examples from SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education):
Talking or feeling hopeless
Talking about or feeling like a burden to others
Making final arrangements or giving things away
Suddenly appearing happier or calmer after a period of depression
Preoccupation with death
If you observe any of these signs in a loved one or yourself you should always take them seriously. Call 911 and seek appropriate medical care to get your loved one the support he or she needs. Here are some online resources for suicide prevention:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386