Suicide Prevention

Why This Matters

Anesthesia providers face a number of challenges, stressors and pressures in their daily lives. Tragically, we continue to lose colleagues to death by suicide. The following resources are intended to help to guide you to resources that may help you or a colleague to get help in addressing their challenges. If you have suggestions of additional resources to add to this site, please contact ASA at [email protected]

Video: Dr. Ronald L. Harter - Anesthesiologist Suicide: What Can Be Done?
Part 1 of a series from the ANES18 panel called “Anesthesiologist Suicide: What Can Be Done?” held on October 13, 2018, in San Francisco, CA.

What You Should Know

• Suicide Prevention - Know the Signs: from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
• Self-Screening -  UC San Diego Health Sciences HEAR Program Questionnaire
  • More about the Healer Education Assessment and Referral Program

What You Can Do Now

• If you or a colleague are suicidal and need emergency help -
  • Call 911 immediately or
  • the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or
  • Contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

• Suggestions to Help Someone Else   Do They Need Your Help? How Can You Help Them?
  • https://988lifeline.org/help-someone-else/

  

 

Suicide prevention for healthcare professionals
Resources for mental health concerns such as burnout, depression, stress, and suicide risk.

Video: Dr. Michael Fitzsimons
Part 2 of a series from the ANES18 panel called “Anesthesiologist Suicide: What Can Be Done?” held on October 13, 2018, in San Francisco, CA.

Video: Dr. Lyuba Konopasek
Part 3 of a series from the ANES18 panel called “Anesthesiologist Suicide: What Can Be Done?” held on October 13, 2018, in San Francisco, CA.

Podcast: Drs. Michael Fitzsimons, Ronald Harter, and Catherine Kuhn join Dr. Striker for a no holds barred conversation about death by suicide in the anesthesia community. Recorded April 2023.

Well-Being   Learn more about what ASA is doing to promote physician well-being.