Category: Psychiatry

13.1 million missing Americans since 1980. Where’s the outrage?

Americans die younger than people living in other wealthy nations. A lot younger. That’s been the case since the early 1980s, and it’s getting worse. A lot worse. Since 1980, 13.1 million American lives have been lost relative to other weal…

Ketamine for mental health conditions: What every primary care physician needs to know

Wait times to find high-quality mental health support continue to be an issue, lagging from weeks to months in, leading to primary care physicians (PCPs) assuming a large role in addressing the pressing shortage of mental health services. Acting as the…

Maximizing care amidst provider shortages: the power of measurement-based care

Since the pandemic, the shortage of behavioral health professionals has become more dire as the need for more comprehensive mental health care has increased. As of March 2023, 160 million Americans lived in areas with mental health professional shortag…

Crying to be heard: women in emotional pain

I am struck by how often crying is overlooked or trivialized by doctors despite its therapeutic value and need for recognition. Crying can play a significant role in healing and overall well-being. Research has shown that crying serves as an emotional …

Man’s search for meaning is spiritual, and relevant to medicine

Viktor Frankl’s Holocaust memoir, Man’s Search for Meaning, is an extraordinary essay on resilience and spirituality, a reminder that human life, under any circumstances, never ceases to have meaning. At the risk of mentioning Bob Dylan in …

Physician mental health: a guide for BIPOC physicians

In the world of medicine, the challenges faced by BIPOC physicians are multifaceted. Not only do they contend with the rigor and demands of the profession, but they also navigate unique societal pressures and systemic inequalities. Prioritizing mental …

Physician mental health: a guide for BIPOC physicians

In the world of medicine, the challenges faced by BIPOC physicians are multifaceted. Not only do they contend with the rigor and demands of the profession, but they also navigate unique societal pressures and systemic inequalities. Prioritizing mental …

Unlocking emotional freedom and empathic communication

Has there ever been a time you judged yourself? Or that one time you resented yourself and repeatedly went over that event, thinking, “Gee, I wish I could’ve changed that one thing.” Has there ever been a time where you’ve said,…

Physicians have a hidden addiction treatment superpower

When it comes to addiction treatment, doctors have a superpower. Even if you’re not board certified in addiction (most of us are not), you possess knowledge and skills uniquely suited to caring for patients with addiction. Many professions purpor…

Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

I am rattled as I read the headlines. Another bright, incredible physician has ended her life. I feel numb with horror as I read the details. I want to scream, cry, and punch the wall. Wiping my tears away, I try to focus on the needs of my whining tod…