Wellness Committee

• The Future of Wellness by Andrea Purpura, MD, Robert Lam, MD FAAEM, Ryan DesCamp, MD, September/October 2019
• AAEM Medical Student Ambassador: The Door to a Brighter Future by Nahal Nikroo, January/February 2019

The designation of September 17, 2021, as National Physician Suicide Awareness Day

AAEM/RSA supports formally recognizing September 17, 2021 as ‘‘National Physician Suicide Awareness Day’’ to raise awareness, reduce the stigma of mental health issues, and promote a national discussion about physician suicide.

#BeThe1To

AAEM/RSA and AAEM have also partnered with the #BeThe1To campaign. #BeThe1To is a campaign organized by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Mental Health Association of New York City. AAEM has partnered with AAEM/RSA and 5 other emergency medicine organizations to customize this campaign for emergency physicians. The other partner organizations include:

Download the emergency medicine #BeThe1To graphics kit to share and spread the word!:

Take 5 to Save Lives

AAEM/RSA has partnered with the Take 5 to Save Lives campaign. The five steps identified by the National Council for Suicide Prevention (NCSP) are:

Twitter Takeover

Throughout the week of September 10^th, AAEM/RSA will be filling up Twitter with words of encouragement and help to raise awareness for suicide prevention. Each day will correspond with one of the Take 5 steps. Follow AAEM/RSA or #WSPD21 on Twitter and stay up-to-date!

Learn more about the Take 5 to Save Lives campaign and download the images!

What can you do to get involved?

Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act

We are proud to endorse the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. This legislation aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health care professionals. Health care professionals have long experienced high levels of stress and burnout, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem. While helping their patients fight for their lives, many health care professionals are coping with their own trauma of losing patients and colleagues and fear for their own health and safety.

AAEM/RSA Wellness Committee Statement

Long before the COVID19 pandemic, physicians, especially emergency physicians, have faced significant structural barriers that impede seeking help to address mental health challenges. Health care professionals continue to experience high levels of stress and burnout due to the pandemic. The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) and American Academy of Emergency Medicine Resident and Student Association (AAEM/RSA) proudly support the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act. The House of Representatives passed the bill on December 8, 2021, and on February 17, 2022, the Senate passed the bill, and President Biden signed this bill on March 18, 2022.

National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience

To provide an opportunity for organizations across the country to discuss and share plans of action to reverse clinician burnout and promote clinician well-being, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has collected statements describing organizational goals or commitments to action. By sharing and creating our statement, RSA is an active contributor to the NAM’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience.

September 10, 2020 is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). This year, WSPD hits even closer to home with the death of New York City Emergency Physician, Dr. Lorna Breen, which received national attention in April. Additionally, as we continue to deal with the fear and uncertainty of COVID-19 in our personal and professional lives, it is more important than ever to have these conversations openly without fear of stigma. Finally, 1 week after WSPD on September 17, 2020 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (NPSA Day). AAEM Resident and Student Association (AAEM/RSA) and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) have worked very hard to promote both of these very important days. Keep reading to learn more about what AAEM and AAEM/RSA are doing and how you can get involved too!

Public Service Announcements

RSA and CORD have collaborated on two PSAs. Throughout the month of September, you will see videos of Christopher I. Doty, MD FAAEM sharing his story and a collaboration with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Just Ask – World Suicide Prevention Day 2017

I Would Call – A Suicide Prevention PSA by RSA & CORD