Resources
FSPHP
Check out the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) articles and podcasts. Many thanks to our colleagues at the Federation of State Physicians' Health Programs for assistance in compiling these resources.
Crisis Recovery Resources
Seeking help when you're suffering from a substance use disorder, mental illness or other behavioral issue is hard. Compounded with the pressure of working in the medical field it becomes event harder.
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The Foundation's Peer Assistance Monitoring Program is here to help.
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September 17 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
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With more than 400 deaths each year, suicide among physicians is a crisis we cannot ignore. Nearly every person in the medical community has been affected by physician suicide.
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While there is a national call to take this one day to raise awareness surrounding physician suicide, The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society's Physicians' Health Program provides resources and services to health care professionals struggling with mental health issues every day.
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Below are some resources if you or someone you know is struggling, and some informational materials surrounding this important topic:
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The National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-8255, provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
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The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society's Peer Assistance Monitoring Program serves eligible health care professionals struggling with substance use disorders, mental illness and other behavioral health concerns. PAMP staff can be reached by phone Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (866) 747-2255 or (717) 558-7819, Friday (emergency calls only) at (717_ 558-7817, and by email at php-foundation@pamedsoc.org.
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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has compiled postvention resources, facts about mental health and suicide, resources for health care professionals and medical educators, and a list of prevention programs.
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The Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine has resources for National Physician Suicide Awareness Day.
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The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has compiled 10 facts about physician suicide and mental health for your reference.
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The American Psychiatric Association Foundation's Center for Workplace Mental Health shared suicide prevention and response tools.
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Emotional PPE is an organization that offers free individual therapy for health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The support is confidential.
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AMA's StepsForward provides a checklist for helping identify physicians who may be at risk of suicide, helping facilitate access to appropriate care, and answering common questions about physician distress and suicidal behavior.
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Dr. Dike Drummond from TheHappyMD.com shares this five-minute video and walks you through some tips on how to reach out to a fellow physician or other human in distress.
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Vital Signs by The Physicians Foundation lists five vital signs to watch for in colleagues and has a nice conversation tips sheet on having a difficult conversation with somebody you recognize is struggling.
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Project Parachute is an organization that offers free individual therapy and, in some states peer support, for health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The support is confidential.
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Physician Suicide: A Call to Action is an article that was published in May/June 2019 in Missouri Medicine, the journal of the Missouri State Medical Association
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The Canadian Medical Association Journal published these five things to know about physician suicide in May 2019. They also produced a podcast about physician suicide.
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Many thanks to our colleagues at the Federation of State Physicians' Health Programs for assistance in compiling these resources
Educational Resources
Health Workers Deserve Care Too: How to Protect Their Mental Health
Corey Feist, JD, MBA & Kim Downey, PT
May 9, 2025
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Impaired Physicians - Health Problems Aren't Just for Patients
by Zachary Deutch, MD, FASA, and Michael G. Fitzsimons, MD
January 2025
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When will physicians feel safe seeking mental health care?
by Tanya Albert Henry
February 24, 2025
Preventing Burnout
Physician burnout is a syndrome that has the potential to impact doctors in any specialty, in any treatment.
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The American Medical Association (AMA) suggests that "self-care is an important behavior that physicians in your practice can use to reduce their individual stress levels and prevent burnout. Some self-care interventions include meditation, actively managing health, sleeping, and eating habits, participating in a regular exercise routine, engaging in hobbies, or taking mini breaks throughout the day in a quiet space to decompress." With the resources below, one can learn ways to cope with stress and build efficacious defenses against burnout.
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The Physicians' Health Program has specific providers who can assist you with services during this stressful time. For more information, call (717) 558-7819.
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If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).​​
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Well-being in Academic Medicine, a repository from the AAMC, lists dozens of articles, books, videos, and other resources, including many related to COVID-19
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A learning module from the American Medical Association describes how to identify at-risk physicians and facilitate access to treatment.
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AMA suggestions on increasing wellness efforts at your institution (be a champion locally)..
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UCLA has a Mindful App based on work from the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center (MARC).
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The University of Pennsylvania Program for Mindfulness offers courses on a rolling schedule.
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The Nursing License Map has compiled a list of mental health resources.