Category: Psychiatry

The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

A most memorable message awaited me on my desk one morning: a brief note from Mrs. G asking, “Why did my husband take his own life today?” Startled, I reflected on Mr. G’s history as I had been treating him in my urology clinic for th…

Healing trauma and reconnecting: Unmasking the impact of dissociation [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join us as we dive into a conversation with Christine Gibson, a family physician and trauma specialist. Christine shares her expertise on dissociation, trauma, and the profound impact they …

Why allowing yourself to embrace discomfort is necessary for personal growth

Life coach and author Martha Beck’s 4-Phase Change Cycle begins with Phase 1: “Death and Rebirth.” Martha’s blog contains the Phase I Mantra: “I don’t know what the hell is going on … and that’s OK.” Many…

Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

The growing mental health crisis affecting our children and families has reached a breaking point. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I know well the current mental health crisis is dire and demands immediate attention. And I worry we are not movi…

Finding your ideal work-life balance: tips for prioritizing personal life and achieving professional success

Recently, someone mentioned that the whole work-life balance issue is overrated. They argue that they have enjoyed focusing on academics and work most of their life and feel very satisfied despite the lack of balance. There was also an assertion of a h…

How can there be joy in medicine if there is no joy in Mudville?

The following article is part satire and part imagination. The classic poem “Casey at the Bat” delves into the dashed dreams of 5,000 frenzied fans who gathered to watch the “Mudville Nine” play baseball, pinning their hopes on …

Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

As I leave a conference organized for a group of physician entrepreneurs, I have so many thoughts running through my head. Some of these thoughts revolve around making my small, fledgling medical practice run more smoothly, reaching more people (and se…

Is the rise in mental illness due to greater awareness or a true increase in incidence?

Someone asked me recently if there is a significant increase in the prevalence of mental illness since it seems everyone is in treatment somewhere. It was a good question and got me thinking. The prevalence of mental illness has been increasing in rece…

Integrating mental health services into primary care for children and adolescents [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join us on this episode as we speak with Hilary M. Bowers, a pediatrician who shares with us the importance of integrating behavioral and mental health care within primary care practices. W…

Restoring our connection to the cosmos: a vital step for healing our minds, bodies, spirits, and planet

How do we balance the desire to stay connected with the cosmos with the demands of modern life? Our internal life is often mirrored by our external world. It is no surprise that the health of our bodies and our planet is under fire. Mental health illne…