September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Why is it important?
According to the CDC, suicide is still a leading cause of death. There are warning signs. Suicide is too common, but there is still a stigma surrounding it. There is still a stigma surrounding mental health. It is time to change the perspective.
Ultimately, the month’s primary purpose is to save lives. By increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and providing resources and support, we can work towards preventing suicides and offering hope to individuals struggling with mental health issues.
There are barriers to seeking help. There is fear of judgment, in certain fields, there are possible professional repercussions. I do say, as many do, we can be replaced at work, but not at home.
If you see something, say something. Check in on your friends, family. Check in on yourself.
Dr. Sapna Shah-Haque, MD is a board certified Internal Medicine physician. She was born and raised in Kansas, and attended medical school at the University of Kansas [KU] School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at KU-Wichita as well. After experiencing burnout herself, and watching other physician colleagues burn out, it became a passion of hers to look into different aspects of burnout. While the system does need to change, as it is broken, this podcast is a way to reach physicians and possibly shed light on what is not an isolated situation.
