Saving Our Colleagues: Suicide Awareness, Resources, and Hope for Healthcare Workers

Episode 78: Saving Our Colleagues: Suicide Awareness, Resources, and Hope for Healthcare Workers

Trigger Warning: Suicide and Mental Health (For immediate help, text or dial 988 in the U.S. for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

Every year, it is as if an entire hospital ward, filled with doctors, nurses, and colleagues, vanishes without a trace, lost to suicide. Behind each of these lives is a story, a family, a friend, a community forever changed.

I’m inspired by the Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation to talk today about suicide prevention for physicians and healthcare workers. Today you’ll hear about Dr. Breen’s story to shine a light on awareness, and on hope. Because noticing the signs, connecting with someone in need, and advocating for mental health can literally save a life.

My hope is that this episode is a reminder that awareness matters, action matters, and connection matters. Together, we can turn awareness into action, and despair into hope.

Suicide Prevention Month: A Message of Hope for Physicians and Healthcare Workers

In honor of Suicide Prevention Month in September, today’s episode is dedicated to suicide prevention for physicians and healthcare workers. This conversation is both urgent and hopeful.

Suicide Prevention Month brings up so many emotions: a sense of loss for friends and colleagues who died by suicide, relief for those who got help they needed, and urgency to spread awareness for those struggling right now, today.

My message is one of hope. With the power of community, the impact of one individual’s action, and the reach of awareness, people can get help. They do not have to struggle alone.

I don’t presume to truly know what someone struggling feels deep in their core – but I do know the perspective as a mother, a friend, and as a physician, all too well.

I do want to bring awareness to the scope of this illness nationally, especially for healthcare providers, and most concerningly, for female healthcare providers.

Awareness breeds alertness, and alertness leads to intervention and advocacy.

Understanding Suicide Statistics Among Physicians and Nurses

The statistics are sobering and demand our attention:

In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports , in 2022:

Suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 49,400 people.

This is hard to comprehend for me, so I looked up the stadium capacity for the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I was there, just last year on July 4^th for a Taylor Swift concert. For the stage set-up she had off to one side of the field, the arena could hold about 50,000 people, and it was a sold-out show.

It’s hard to imagine all of those people, lost to suicide over the course of a year.

When broken down by age group, suicide rises from 11^th place to the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th leading cause of death depending on the age range.

When you break down these overarching statistics by gender you find men have an age-adjusted suicide rate 4 times higher than women, in the U.S. (Suicide – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

But what about the numbers for men and women in medicine? Strikingly different.  

Female doctors have a 53% higher suicide rate compared to women in the general population; in contrast, male physicians actually have a lower rate compared to male non-physicians. (JAMA Psychiatry, Feb 2025) Female nurses are 8.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general female population. (Lorna Breen Foundation)

I’m talking about U.S statistics because women in healthcare are more likely to die by suicide here than other nations. Though attention is certainly warranted in other countries, see article from the BMJ here.

Numbers can shock us, but behind every statistic is a colleague, a friend, a human being. Which is why it’s so important not just to understand the data, but to recognize the warning signs in the people around us, before it’s too late.

How do you notice when someone might be struggling?

Recognizing Warning Signs of Suicide in Colleagues and Friends

Sometimes, the signs come out of nowhere.

Dr. Lorna Breen was a dedicated emergency physician, a sister, daughter, friend, and the “cool aunt” to eight nieces and nephews. She spent her career caring for patients at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, ultimately serving as director of the emergency room at Allen Hospital.

In the spring of 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, Lorna worked grueling 12-hour shifts treating incredibly sick patients with severely limited supplies and staff. She would stay beyond her shift to help her co-workers, as would they.

Extreme exhaustion and emotional strain escalated to the point she couldn’t even stand, but she feared seeking help because of potential stigma and professional consequences. She feared for her job.

For those who aren’t in healthcare, allow me to explain. Medical licensing boards throughout the country require disclosure by the applicant of current or past mental health care (in some cases at any level). Hospitals also require disclosure for credentialing, and seeking mental health care is considered a sign of weakness amongst many medical professionals.

Lorna had no prior mental health issues. She was a smart, funny sarcastic woman, yet she died by suicide on April 26, 2020. Her story is a stark reminder that sometimes, despite outward appearances, those struggling may go unnoticed, even among colleagues, friends, and loved ones.

Other times, the warning signs are visible but brushed off or rationalized. Still, other times, signals are loud and clear.

One way to approach ow to look for warning signs in others is by using the acronym HEART. It’s from The Physicians Foundation, who has an initiative to help prevent physician suicide by recognizing the warning signs. These are like vital signs and of course, this acronym applies to nurses and all healthcare professionals struggling.

It is called HEART. Each letter is a vital sign:

Health – Increased use of medications and/or alcohol or illicit drugs. Talking about wanting to hurt themselves or die.

Emotions – Experiencing extreme mood swings. Feeling hopeless or having no purpose

Attitude – Being negative about professional and personal life. Having inappropriate outbursts of anger or sadness

Relationships – Withdrawing or isolating themselves from family, friends and coworkers. Talking about being a burden to others

Temperament – Acting anxious or agitated, behaving recklessly. Being uncomfortable, tired or in unbearable pain.

Some of these are subtle at first or hard to recognize. Still some are obvious, right?

Maybe you have noticed a coworker who is withdrawing, has a change in their demeanor or are saying they’re struggling.

The purpose of memorizing a simple acronym, HEART, is to help us be the ones who notice and take action.

What to Say & Where to Go for Resources

I’ve found the more I talk about suicide with people, the more comfortable I get.

I’ll start with questions like: “I’ve noticed you’ve seemed different lately, is everything okay?” Or, if they open up I’ll say, “You’re not alone. I care, and I’m here for you.” I’ll ask the direct questions if needed too, like “Are you having suicidal thoughts?” or “Are you thinking if harming yourself?”

A lot of physicians and healthcare workers are hesitant to seek help. This is a huge issue. So, gently remind the person of some confidential resources. Top numbers for immediate help list are:

• National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (text or dial 988 in the U.S.)
• Physician Support Line (dial (888) 409-0141 in the U.S.) This line is staffed by psychiatrists helping physicians and medical students.
• *Several resources are found in the show notes and footer below.*

It can feel uncomfortable to be speaking to a friend or patient with direct questions, but it will get easier. Asking questions out of concern and support will help and won’t drive people to act on those thoughts.

Becoming an Advocate for Suicide Prevention and Healthcare Worker Wellness

Knowing what to say and where to find help is powerful, but your impact doesn’t have to stop there.

Once comfortable having these conversations and connecting people with support, you may want to take the next step: becoming advocates for suicide prevention and healthcare worker wellness.

I am honored to serve as an ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, an organization born from the tragic story of Dr. Lorna Breen I discussed earlier.

The Foundation fights for the professional well-being and mental health of healthcare workers through several initiatives.

They have more successes than I can list, but here’s one! You know those intrusive mental health questions on licensing applications I just mentioned? The Foundation fights to have those removed and as of May 22, 2025, 1 dental licensure board, 37 medical licensure boards, 5 nursing licensure boards, and 7 pharmacy licensure boards verified their licensing applications do not include these questions. This affects nearly 1.4 million licensed health workers.

They have multiple ways you can take action from the organizational to the individual level. I recommend their website to get started.

There are other forms of advocacy too. It can be as simple as posting about mental health awareness, encouraging a friend to use mental health resources for doctors, or supporting local programs that provide healthcare worker mental health support.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center has a pdf full of ideas to take action this month, and beyond to help prevent suicide. Here is a link: SPM-Ideas-for-Action_2025.pdf

Every small action amplifies the message that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and that no one in medicine should face these struggles alone.

Continuing the Conversation: Resources, Next Steps, and Hope Beyond Suicide Prevention Month

Thank you for joining me for this episode on suicide prevention for physicians and healthcare workers.

I discussed the scope of the problem with current suicide statistics and highlighted the importance of staying alert to the warning signs of suicide in colleagues with the HEART acronym.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please don’t wait, please reach out. You can always call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988.

Check out multiple other resources in the show notes below or on my website page for episode 78.

Today, I aimed to bring awareness, highlight resources, and foster hope. Suicide Prevention Month is a sacred reminder of colleagues we’ve lost, and the family and friends who carry that grief.

But awareness matters all year long. If you’re listening, take heart, your voice, your questions, your reach could save at least one person’s life.

Thank you to the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation for leading courageous conversations in healthcare. You inspire hope, action, and healing.

Don’t forget to join me next week for another dose of support and inspiration. Until then, take care of yourselves, and take care of those who matter most.

It’s Time to Take Control and Thrive!

 Resources for immediate help:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline  provides immediate, free 24/7 crisis support via phone (988), text (988), or online chat for anyone experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. 

• Physician Support Line is a national, free, and confidential support line made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists to provide peer support for physician colleagues and American medical students. Call 1-888-409-0141. It’s open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 11 pm ET, except federal holidays. 

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine offers free mental health support, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 10 pm ET. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text “NAMI” to 62640 or email helpline@nami.org.

• Start Your Recovery provides resources for people in crisis who may be struggling with substance use. 

Resources for ongoing support and information:

• National Physician Suicide Awareness Day | NPSA Day
• Action Ideas pdf to help prevent suicide: SPM-Ideas-for-Action_2025.pdf
• Home – Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation

References for statistics:

BMJ, Aug 2024

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports , in 2022

JAMA Psychiatry, Feb 2025

Suicide – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)