The ACGME recognizes the pressures faced by residents, fellows, and others in the graduate medical education (GME) community, pressures that can sometimes create barriers to obtaining mental health care. It is crucial to recognize that help is available and accessible. As we observe Suicide Prevention Month, we wanted to share and highlight resources to support the mental health and well-being of those in GME and beyond.
Long hours, high expectations, and the emotional weight of patient outcomes are just some factors that can contribute to burnout, anxiety, depression, and, in some cases, thoughts of suicide. It is essential for institutions and programs to address these issues head-on and provide support to learners, and faculty and staff members when it’s needed.
Overcoming Barriers to Mental Health Care
According to a 2017 survey of residents at Northwestern University, time is the number one barrier to seeking mental health care. It is vitally important that GME Sponsoring Institutions and programs create supportive environments that ensure their residents and fellows have time when they need to seek appropriate care. The ACGME addresses well-being in section VI.C. of its Common Program Requirements.
Another significant barrier to mental health care is the stigma associated with seeking help. Many residents and fellows fear that admitting to mental health struggles could negatively impact their careers. The ACGME calls for institutions and programs to break down these barriers and foster environments where seeking help is viewed as a strength, not a weakness.
Leaders from the ACGME well-being team recently authored an article in The Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME), entitled, “Overcoming Barriers to Mental Health Care for Residents.” The article offers creative approaches to navigating such obstacles and improving well-being, and aims to provide practical advice and support for learners navigating their own mental health journeys. After reading the article, we encourage you to listen to the related ACGME podcast diving deeper into the “Barriers to Mental Health Help-Seeking in Graduate Medical Education with Dr. Greg Guldner.”
ACGME Well-Being Podcasts
Our series of podcasts on suicide prevention and other well-being topics provides insights and practical advice on maintaining mental health during residency and fellowship. ACGME Vice President, Well-Being Dr. Stuart Slavin hosts the series, in which he speaks with other leaders in health care, discusses the stressors of becoming a physician, and allows other health professionals to recount their own first-hand experience with traumatic events and how they traversed them.
Resources in Learn at ACGME for Mental Health and Well-Being
The ACGME’s digital learning portal, Learn at ACGME, offers a variety of resources aimed at promoting mental health and well-being among residents and fellows. These include:
- Depression in Physicians video module: Dr. Sansea L. Jacobson leads an insightful module on physician depression, which looks at the alarming rates of depression among physicians, examining key factors such as burnout and isolation. Dr. Jacobson offers practical strategies for early recognition and intervention, tackling stigma, and ensuring access to confidential care.
- Psychological First Aid handout: This e-flyer briefly describes how to administer psychological first aid, an evidence-based approach to addressing the aftermath of traumatic exposure.
- Mental Health and Well-Being during Transitions: Transitioning into and through GME can be difficult. The “Mental Health and Well-Being during Transitions” resources provide programs and institutions with tools for supporting residents and fellows during this vulnerable period, as well as other key transitional times.
- After a Suicide Toolkit: This toolkit for GME programs and institutions provides a foundation for developing an action plan in the event of a death by suicide within a residency or fellowship program. It provides guidance on creating a Crisis Response Team and developing a communication plan.
- Make the Difference: Preventing Medical Trainee Suicide: This video from Mayo Clinic and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention explains how everyone can help prevent suicide by being alert for the signs of depression and escaping stress and how to be most helpful. Learn more about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at https://afsp.org/.
The ACGME encourages all residents, fellows, educators, administrators, and leaders at GME Sponsoring Institutions and programs to take advantage of these resources. We strongly believe that by fostering a culture of openness and support, we can make a significant positive difference in the lives of everyone facing difficulty.
Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength. If you need help, please do not hesitate to reach out for support.