ACP supports National Physician Suicide Awareness Day on Sept. 17
This year's theme is “Shine a Light. Speak Its Name.”
ACP is an official supporter of the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine's (CORD) effort to help spread awareness about the issue of physician suicide. CORD is leading a collaborative effort with ACP and other medical organizations to encourage grassroots activities around National Physician Suicide Awareness Day on Sept. 17. This year's theme is “Shine a Light. Speak Its Name.”
CORD's resources include a curriculum, podcasts, videos, and articles. CORD's Vision Zero statement calls on individuals, residency programs, health care organizations, and national groups to make a commitment to break down stigma, increase awareness, open the conversation, decrease the fear of consequences, recognize warning signs, and learn to approach colleagues who may be at risk.
Through ACP's Physician Well-being and Professional Fulfillment initiative, the ACP I.M. Emotional Support Hub, curated physician suicide awareness and community building resources in ACP's Well-being Champion newsletter (I.M. Thriving) and COVID-19 well-being resources, ACP continues to work to address the factors that affect physician professional fulfillment and well-being.
The cover story in the September ACP Internist also focuses on physician suicide awareness, offering the perspectives of family members and experts in mental health and well-being on ways to open dialogue and reduce stigma around this issue, as well as advice and resources to help promote prevention.