I recently published an essay on physician suicide: “Doctors are killing themselves, and who is taking notice?” My intent was to bring awareness to this issue and honor a fallen colleague. I want to continue the discussion. I realized tha…
Category: Psychiatry
Suicide in veterinary medicine is a huge problem right now
I am a veterinarian. More specifically, I am a veterinary specialist, board-certified in emergency and critical care. I don’t play with puppies and kittens. I treat the worst of the worst in a specialty hospital setting with a state-of-the-art ER an…
Despite struggles with my own mental health, I’d never exchange them for an ordinary existence.
What are you doing to take care of your mental health on World Mental Health Day? Tell me, is something eluding you, sunshine? Today, I’m listening to Pink Floyd for 2 reasons: 1. This morning, I did a 10-minute yoga flow with Denis Morton, who played …
Doctors are killing themselves, and who is taking notice?
I am a psychiatrist. My field has been marred with human rights violations and treatments that though well-meaning, did not yield the results that were intended. I have always been at the watch and helm of speaking out when I see gaps and places where …
A love letter to the physician with depression
We’ve never met, but I’ll bet you could use some encouragement right about now. This has been a tough year. Maybe for you, like me, depression feels like an old song that keeps getting played and stuck in your head over and over through the years. Or …
Addressing suicide is a shared burden across health care professions
Early on the morning of September 11th, 2017, already a solemn day for our nation, a light went out due to suicide. Our father, Patrick Vezeau, was an oral surgeon near the end of an accomplished career who quietly fought a lifelong battle with depress…
If you really want to make a dent in physician suicide, talk about your own feelings
September, National Suicide Prevention Month, is coming to a close. National Physician Suicide Awareness Day was September 17. What happens now that September’s over? All month, I’ve wanted to write this post. I’ve been hesitant beca…
Physician burnout: Find your balance
When entering a stressful and demanding career, it’s important for individuals to maintain their mental and physical health as they strive for a balance between their professional and personal life. There were times when I felt so defeated and worn-out…
Dopamine fasting, debunked by a psychiatrist
Taking a break from technology is a fine idea, but we don’t need a pseudoscientific new name for it: dopamine fasting. Launched with viral Silicon Valley memes, online reports, and articles in the New York Times and elsewhere, dopamine fasting is now …
A silent cry from the woman in the elevator
“How long have you been married?” The question came from a young woman kneeling down by the elevator in the hotel where my wife and I were staying while in Seattle. We were there to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary with an Alaskan cruise. I hadn’…
