September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the mental health struggles that disproportionately affect women physicians. Alarmingly, women physicians are at a higher risk for suicide than their male counterparts and suffer burnout at much higher rates than men.

The pressures of balancing demanding careers, unique stressors, limited time to invest in social connections, a rise in imposter syndrome from unrealistic social media posts and continued societal gender expectations can all lead to burnout and emotional distress for working women. It’s crucial that we address this issue head-on by fostering a supportive environment, encouraging safe spaces for conversations and ensuring access to mental health resources.

HonorHealth offers a range of resources including:

• Provider Peer Support led by Wendy Ellis, DHEd, Melanie Patton, MD, and John Pope, MD
• A national dedicated crisis line for calls or texts at 988 (988lifeline.org)
• Talk Space
• Other mental health services through our care for the caregiver service line

For more information, visit the Well-being Center of Excellence.

These resources are designed to create a supportive environment, destigmatize seeking help, encourage open dialogue and ensure that no one faces mental health struggles alone. Reach out this month to your family and friends and ask if they need to be helped, heard or just hugged!

Together, we can help prevent suicide; start a simple conversation and steer your colleagues to resources to promote kindness and well-being for our entire healthcare system.