“I would never want to have a mental health diagnosis on my record”

A quote from Gold, Andrew, Goldman, & Schwenk (2016) retrieved from https://buff.ly/2yRTVh8 These researchers found the reason many female physicians will not obtain mental health care is due to their concerns for having a mental health diagnosis in a permanent, sharable, electronic medical record. This concern is valid. Physicians must often report their depression, anxiety, mood disorder, or substance abuse issues to the board of medicine. Physicians often must sit in front of their licensing boards and hope someone who they don’t know, doesn’t further stigmatize them. They worry they will lose their license due to the board findings.

Many factors play into the tragedy of the epidemic of physician suicide- moral injury, burnout, dehumanizing electronic medical records, bureaucracy, and also ACCESS & STIGMA! We need to do better for the mothers & fathers of medicine.

One day I was speaking with my colleagues about the privilege of treating those in the field. We all acknowledged we have a quiet system for psychiatric treatment on the “down-low” for physicians and clinicians, and those in the public eye. We bring the person in on off-hours, paper chart kept in a lockbox and other privacy measures. We all agreed it would be nice if there were no stigma, no need to do this, but we all do it. #endphysiciansuicide

Telepsychiatry provides a de-stigmatizing, accommodating, private way for physicians, clinicians, and those needing anonymity to get treatment for mental health or substance abuse support. At Your Service Psychiatry, PLLC offers the ability to seek treatment outside of an electronic medical record system, alternative consent sign-up, scheduling, and payment. Those who need additional privacy measures may call or text 833-AYS-PSYC (833-297-7792) for details on exclusive care.

Author Allison Sikorsky

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