Wellness Wednesday: Take Time to Ask Other Physicians How They’re Doing

“People who need help sometimes look a lot like people who don’t need help” – Glennon Doyle

Tomorrow is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day.

Some of us wear our emotions on our sleeves. But many of us are more private. Some of us air our problems to everyone. But some of us keep them bottled up and put on a happy face.

Everyone deals with their own emotional struggles differently. But everyone deals with them. It is so important, in a profession that has a higher suicide rate than the rest of the population, that we remember this. That we look out for each other. That when we say, “how are you?” that we really mean it. That we really want to know.

In the ED, we say we can tell a kidney stone from the door. We can spot a heart attack rolling in on the stretcher. But depression and emotional struggles can look like anything. You don’t know, if you don’t ask.

WEEKLY WELLNESS TIP: This week, I encourage you to think about your colleagues. If someone is acting differently than before, if you know they are having personal struggles, or if you’re just their friend, consider genuinely asking how they are doing, and take the time to listen to their answers.

See Dr. Badward’s blog at: bewellhealwell.com

Dr. Jess Badwards
Dr. Jess Badwards is the author of BeWellHealWell
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