MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Internship is an exciting and rewarding year that can be filled with personal growth and professional development. It can also be an incredibly challenging and demanding year where new doctors are exposed to incredible stress, long work hours and sleep deprivation. It is known that rates of depression are higher among interns than the general population and that untreated depression can have profoundly negative consequences on job performance, quality of relationships, physical health and general well-being.
Depression is characterized by a persistent depressed mood and lack of interest or ability to derive pleasure from your usual activities. Other symptoms include changes in energy, sleep, appetite, or concentration as well as feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness and hopelessness. Often people with depression feel that life is not worth living and that they would be better off dead. Depression is often triggered by stress and, as we all know, the practice of medicine can be highly stressful. Untreated depression can have profoundly negative consequences on job performance, quality of relationships, physical health and general well-being.
If you begin to experience symptoms of depression, we encourage you to seek help. We have provided the contact information for mental health services available in the area.
Mental Health Services Locator by State Website:
Go to https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and click on your state on the map.
Suicide Hotline: 988
Website: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
This hotline offers immediate suicidal crisis counseling and information about crisis centers in your area as well as referrals to mental health centers in your area.
2-1-1 Infoline:
Information, referral and crisis intervention service for your state. Operates 24 hours a day. Can be reached by dialing 2-1-1 in your state.
Crisis Text Line:
Text "HOME" to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime.
A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds from a secure online platform.
Physicians Support Line:
1 (888) 409-0141
Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/
Psychiatrists helping our US physician and medical student colleagues navigate the many intersections of our personal and professional lives. Free, Confidential & Anonymous. No appointment necessary. Call for any issue, not just a crisis. We report to no one.
Open Monday to Friday (except federal holidays)
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM ET