78: Saving Our Colleagues: Suicide Awareness, Resources, and Hope for Healthcare Workers

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide and mental health (For immediate help, text or dial 988 in the U.S. for The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). 

Find the full transcript and bonus resources for physician moms at inspiredmommds.com/78.

Every year, it is as if an entire hospital ward, filled with doctors, nurses, and colleagues, vanishes without a trace, lost to suicide. Behind each of these lives is a story, a family, a friend, a community forever changed.

I’m inspired by the Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation to talk today about suicide prevention for physicians and healthcare workers. Today you’ll hear about Dr. Breen’s story to shine a light on awareness, and on hope. Because noticing the signs, connecting with someone in need, and advocating for mental health can literally save a life.

My hope is that this episode is a reminder that awareness matters, action matters, and connection matters. Together, we can turn awareness into action, and despair into hope.

 Resources for immediate help: 

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides immediate, free 24/7 crisis support via phone (988), text (988), or online chat for anyone experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. 
• Physician Support Line is a national, free, and confidential support line made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists to provide peer support for physician colleagues and American medical students. Call 1-888-409-0141. It’s open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 11 pm ET, except federal holidays. 
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine offers free mental health support, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 10 pm ET. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text “NAMI” to 62640 or email [e-mail].
• Start Your Recovery provides resources for people in crisis who may be struggling with substance use. 

Resources for ongoing support and information: 

·        National Physician Suicide Awareness Day | NPSA Day

·        Action Ideas pdf to help prevent suicide: SPM-Ideas-for-Action_2025.pdf

·        Home - Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation

• Check out InspiredMomMDs.com for more information about how I help physician moms!
• You can grab a copy of my freebie! Just click here for a quick download: 4 Steps to Take Back Control, Find Time for What Matters Most and Thrive in Your Practice and at Home

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for medical advice or care. I’m a board-certified physician, but this content isn’t connected to my clinical practice, and no doctor-patient relationship is formed here. Please always talk to your own health professional about any mental or physical health concerns. And as always, take what helps and leave the rest. Please see InspiredMomMDs.com for full legal disclaimer.

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I help physician moms take back control and prioritize what matters most so they can thrive in private practice and at home.