Month: September 2021

Just last month, the American Heart Association (AHA) ventured into new territory: the organization issued its first Presidential Advisory related to opioid use. Coming in the weeks leading up the National Recovery Month, the announcement reflects the hard reality that the United States is actually losing ground in our battle against opioid overuse. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our mental health, and this is driving nation-wide increases in substance use. Overdose deaths were up around 30% … Continue reading “New Advisory Marks a First in the Nation’s Efforts Against Opioid Overuse”

When I was in medical school, two of my fellow students died – one by suicide and one from an alcohol use disorder. A third student survived a suicide attempt. At that time, I had not yet become a psychiatrist, and I shared the common misperception of suicide as a largely unpreventable tragedy. In our grief, my classmates and I did not connect these deaths with the pressures inherent in our career path. Even as we mourned the loss of … Continue reading “When Those Who Help Need Help: National Physician Suicide Awareness Day”