Free Webinar: Preventing Suicide and Building Resilience

AVMA | LIFE, a Platinum-level Strategic Initiative Partner with VMAE, is deeply engaged in the veterinary wellbeing initiative. They’ve teamed up with the Pet Poison Helpline to co-sponsor a free webinar titled “Healthcare Provider Mental Health: Preventing Suicide and Building Resilience.” Scheduled for April 19 from noon-1 PM Central time, the speaker is Christine Moutier, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Click here to register and deepen your understanding of the issue and of successful strategies emerging in the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.

Webinar Description:
Awareness of high rates of burnout, depression, and suicide in physicians and other healthcare professionals (HCPs) is leading to changes within the medical profession at all levels. Most mental health problems can be effectively managed, but real and perceived barriers, such as confidentiality concerns and fear of negative ramifications on one’s reputation, licensure, or hospital privileging keep many HCPs from addressing their mental health needs. Unattended distress has ramifications for HCPs as well as the healthcare industry and patient safety. A number of factors contribute: in addition to individual risk factors and stress load, institutional culture plays a critical role leading HCPs to rationalize distress as part of their professional identity.

There are several initiatives with demonstrated effectiveness in medical settings which can be scaled up for greatest impact: education and stigma reduction efforts, policies and procedures that treat mental health on par with physical health, and efforts that promote an overarching culture of respect. Further strides can be made by addressing hospital and state licensing forms’ questions related to mental health – ensuring that questions pertain to competence rather than illness – or replacing questions altogether with a statement encouraging proactive actions to protect physician mental health and safe practice.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.