Mental Health Resources for Physicians

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Whether you are working on the front lines caring for COVID-19 patients, or your practice has suffered a substantial loss of patients and income, or you are otherwise affected, the pandemic has brought much added stress for physicians. Here are several mental health resources:
- The American Medical Association offers these mental health tips for physicians, patients and staff.
- Physician Support Line, 888-409-0141, offers free and confidential peer support to American physicians by creating a safe space to discuss immediate life stressors with volunteer psychiatrist colleagues. This service was launched by volunteer psychiatrists in March 2020 to help physicians cope with the stress of COVID-19. Learn more about Physician Support Line in this profile in Health Leaders Media.
- Headspace, AMA preferred provider of meditation and mindfulness, is offering any U.S.-based health care professional with a National Provider Identifier (NPI) a free subscription to Headspace Plus through December 31, 2020.
- Project Parachute is a nationwide network of therapists who will provide a pre-determined series of therapy sessions free of charge. The site will match frontline health care workers with a local therapist licensed in the worker’s state.
- The Missouri Physicians Health Program and the Kansas Medical Society-Professionals’ Health Program provide confidential counseling and resources.
Articles About Physician Mental Health in COVID-19
- The Invisible Wounds of COVID-19: The Mental Health Crisis in Health Care Workers
By Jessica Gold, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and Craig Pearson, PhD, student, both of Washington University School of Medicine
Kansas City Medicine, Second Quarter 2020 - Prioritizing Physician Mental Health as COVID-19 Marches On
JAMA May 20, 2020 - The Covid-19 crisis too few are talking about: health care workers’ mental health
By Jessica Gold, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and Craig Pearson, PhD, student, both of Washington University School of Medicine
Stat News April 3, 2020 - Suicides of two health care workers hint at the Covid-19 mental health crisis to come
Stat News April 30, 2020 - Why don’t doctors seek mental health treatment? They’ll be punished for it.
Licensing boards can require all medical records, including details from long-ago psychotherapy sessions, and then press for close supervision
Washington Post May 11, 2020