Protect Your Mental Health in the Face of Adversity

Mental health is a key component of your well-being, but the drive to develop and nurture your mental health is vulnerable to a variety of negative factors—some of which are out of your control. Surgeons and healthcare professionals work in an environment that by its very nature  exposes these individuals to emotionally difficult events, such  as being the second victim when a patient experiences a complication or an adverse event, moral injury, compassion fatigue, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression

Creating safe environments and encouraging conversation about well-being and mental health are necessary to reduce the stigma of mental health issues.  You are encouraged to look through the following resources to learn ways to monitor, support, and improve your mental health.

Signs and Symptoms

• How to Identify Feelings – So You Can Deal with Them
• The Signs and Symptoms of Physician Stress
• Mental Health & Wellness as a Medical Professional

Talk About Mental Health

• Just Checking In: 10 Minutes, 10 Questions
• Notice. Talk. Act.™
• 7 Questions to Help People Talk About Their Mental Health

Support Yours and Others Mental Health

• A Personal Crisis Management Plan for Physicians
• Physician Support Line
• Mental Health Screening Tools

The ACS Surgeon Well-Being Program will share more on related topics throughout May, National Mental Health Awareness Month.