(Trigger Warning: Suicide) Mental Health in Medical Professions
“I Revealed That I Take Medication for My Mental Health to Millions Online. Here’s What Happened.” - Jake Goodman, MD, MBA
Trigger Warning: The following article may contain mentions of suicide. Please proceed with caution. 
It is well known that a medical profession of any kind is one that is extremely demanding mentally and emotionally. But for some incredulous reason, we as a society expect doctors, nurses, practitioners, surgeons, etc. to be these impervious unfazed perfect individuals with no issues, no diseases, nothing. To have unquestionably perfect health. Especially Mental Health.
Some states within the United States of America will refuse an aspiring doctor their medical license if they admit to having any history of mental health. The article referenced mentions the case of Dr. Lorna Breen, a medical director of the emergency department at NewYork Presbyterian Allen Hospital, committing suicide As a result of her mental health needs being unmet because she was too scared to ask for help As a medical professional. Because of the potential backlash you would receive as a doctor needing mental health assistance.
When the author of the referenced article, Dr.Jake Goodman, first used his platform on TikTok to talk about receiving medication as a medical professional, although he received support, he also received extreme hate and criticism. We live in a society where the very people who treat us are not allowed to treat themselves or be treated even though trauma and stress and fear is part of their daily life. No sensible person would expect a normal person to go without help if they’d've been through what a medical professional goes through in a singular day, maybe even in an hour. So why do we expect our doctors to be Indestructible invulnerable superheroes? They're just human, they deserve the same support that they offer. It is misguided, naive and ridiculous to believe a human being could not have issues after being in such extreme environments. After working such extreme hours. Not sleeping. Not eating. Not resting. Simply working for the sake of other people. It is crazy for anybody to expect them to not, at the very least, have some stress. And it is unjust to prevent them from ever practicing as a result.
Absence of issues is not what makes a good doctor.
Read referenced article here
#MentalHealth #Medication #Medicine #Stigma #DoctorsAreHumans
@zealousGrace5023 Wow. Thank you so much for sharing. I didn't know that some states don't give doctors a license if they have a history of mental health issues. I find that awful and so stigmatizing. Doctors are life-savers, but they get looked down upon if they receive help for themselves? It's crazy and totally not fair on them.
@fruityPond7887 yes exactly
i knew there was stigma but i had no clue it was that bad
@zealousGrace5023 Yeah I agree. The pandemic has been so hard on them and it's so sad to see so many healthcare workers quitting their jobs that they once dreamt of because they are so mentally exhausted.
@fruityPond7887 precisely
also the story of the doctor mentioned in the article is just devastatingly sad
@zealousGrace5023 It is. It's such a shame that our medical professionals, who do so much for others, feel as though they would be shamed if they received any mental health treatment. It's so stigmatizing 😞 They are wonderful people.
@fruityPond7887 exactly
@zealousGrace5023
This is such a great read. I think the bests doctors know the issues that people struggle with not because they just studied it off a textbook or something but that they're able to empathize with negative emotions and be able to offer full support to their patients. Doctors are humans at the end of the day and sometimes they just because you're a doctor does not mean you're an emotionless working robot.
@sunnyWriting4806 exactly and without empathy and compassion doctors become dismissive of the patient which is never really good