Category: Psychiatry

To my fellow physicians who are struggling with suicidal ideation

Thanks for gathering today in this anonymous detached space. Since it’s unlikely that we’ll ever publicly convene in a circle on metal folding chairs, I’m reaching out through this letter. You can peruse this in private and perhaps see a piece of yours…

Why physician-specialized private counseling practices are important [PODCAST]

“Attending physicians struggling with a mental health issue should consider contacting a counselor first, rather than a department head or employer resource. A counselor can assess the mental health issue, offer treatment recommendations, and pro…

A doctor’s fear of depression

I was in my fourth year of medical college in psychiatry electives. I remember my professor discussing a young boy, an A-grade engineering student diagnosed with depression one year back and now was admitted in the psychiatry ward with severe depressio…

National Physician Suicide Awareness Day: Break the silence

“I don’t know if I can keep doing this” “I can’t see a way out.” “I feel stuck – trapped.” What is it like?  That feeling of being exhausted, stuck, not feeling like there is a way out.  I think of it as running a marathon where you can’t stop. Y…

A new paradigm for psychiatric emergencies [PODCAST]

“Imagine this scenario: a busy mom struggles to balance work and parenting during the pandemic when suddenly her teenage son begins to anger. He gets out of control, screams threats, and kicks a hole in the wall. Neighbors call the police, who re…

Medicine’s culture of betrayal

An excerpt from Physician Betrayal: How Our Heroes Become Villains. A mass casualty event begins with one act of betrayal. By one person. A person with power. In medicine the assault weapon—doctor’s orders. One act of betrayal by one doctor may lead to…

Debunking common virtual therapy myths and tips for new patients [PODCAST]

“While the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and normalized the need for increased mental and behavioral health services over the last year and a half, addressing mental health issues as a regular form of their wellness will persist beyond the pandemic. …

How shame tried to hijack my medical training [PODCAST]

“I’m smart enough to be a physician. As if being the smartest person in the room makes you the best physician in the room. Hint, it doesn’t. Being a good physician is a culmination of knowledge, skills, and strengths that you, as an individual ph…

Behavioral health opportunities during the pandemic [PODCAST]

“The dramatic uptick in mental distress, trauma, and substance use since last year has driven a corresponding rise in the use of virtual mental health therapy and psychiatric care, helping us, as a society, more effectively grapple with the fallo…

I do not want to be resilient

I went to replace four hanging plants at a nursery this past weekend because they all died once the Texas heat made its appearance, despite being watered, placed in the shade, and talked to by my daughter and me. While I was looking for plants that wil…