Today is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day.
Each year, it's estimated that a million Americans lose their primary care physician to suicide—a crisis both deeply personal and profoundly systemic. Behind every statistic is a colleague, a mentor, a friend, a parent, a healer. The impact ripples across families, patients and communities.
#Burnout, often driven by administrative burden and workforce shortages continues to take a heavy toll. This year's physician wellbeing survey found that more than half of physicians report frequent feelings of burnout, and nearly half say they withdraw from family, friends, or colleagues when struggling. At the same time, 73% of physicians agree stigma persists around seeking mental health care. These barriers are unacceptable.
On #NPSADay, we are called not just to raise awareness, but to act:
- Check in with a physician. Sometimes the most meaningful step is simply asking, “How are you—really?”
- Remove barriers like intrusive mental health questions on applications that prevent physicians from seeking care.
- Foster a culture of wellbeing in our healthcare systems, where physicians are supported, not stigmatized, for seeking help.
Physician wellbeing is not optional, it is essential. A healthy workforce is the foundation of safe, high-quality patient care.
Together, we can help ensure physicians get the support they need before a moment of crisis.
Learn the #VitalSigns and access resources: https://npsaday.org/