[TRIGGER WARNING: discussion on the tribulations of healthcare workers and depression and suicide] I wanted to take a moment to talk a little bit about the unsung heroes of the medical world: psychiatrists caring for the severely ill; those suffering from major depressive disorder, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, and the like. Depression maintains its status as a pandemic, and over a million people die every year from suicide. It could be your loved one or a coworker, an acquaintance from across the hall, that quiet neighbor youve never thought to speak to. Regardless of who it is, we know that it can have severe and tragic consequences on an entire community, and our hearts go out to all the victims and their families as we try to piece together a way to better help those in need more effectively - and were never fast enough. But how about the healthcare professionals tirelessly working for the betterment of these patients? Imagine being a psychiatrist who was ultimately held responsible for a patients mental wellbeing. Imagine seeing stretches of time where their patient improves, and exhibiting this feeling a genuine and sincere sense of accomplishment for being able to help positively affect someones life. Then imagine the sense of failure and guilt that comes when you were not able to save your patient from their ultimate demise, and having that angst amplified when everyones finger is immediately pointed at you. These healthcare professionals traverse a discipline where they are constantly told to do the impossible: distance themselves emotionally from other human beings. Unfathomable. I believe that, whether we like it or not, empathy instills a potent emotional connection between two people, and it happens to be one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of any healthcare professional. Without this benevolent spirit and passion towards our patients, the human connection is irreparably severed. This is precisely why working with vulnerable patients inevitably takes its toll on their healthcare professionals, and this sacrifice cannot be understated. Below is a linked article that raises a few more questions regarding the patient-psychiatrist relationship: how does patient suicide affect psychiatrists? Why do psychiatrists sometimes voluntarily stop seeing patients? How do we define malpractice in this setting? Stay safe and stay well. Love you all. B
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:42:57 +0000
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