Psych Matters Blog
Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month
Suicide is an extremely important topic to shine the light on as it is, according to the CDC, the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. We spoke with Mary Ojeda, LCSW, clinical services manager at Banner - University Medicine Whole Health Clinic to learn more about suicide risk factors, warning signs, stigma in seeking help, and ways to supportively intervene.
National Physician Suicide Awareness Day
"September is suicide prevention month, and this September 17, 2020, is the third annual National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. The primary purpose is to create a day to commemorate colleagues lost to suicide and to raise awareness about the issue internally and externally by shedding a light on it." – Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine. We spoke with Jason Curry, DO, Program Director of the University of Arizona’s Psychiatry Residency Program, about specific challenges physicians face when it comes to seeking help for mental health struggles, coping with burnout, and mitigating suicide.
International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held annually on August 31 and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. Elisa Gumm, MD, the Director of the University of Arizona Psychiatry Department’s Addiction Fellowship Program, covers the importance of awareness and advocacy in treating addiction, and also discusses the Addiction Fellowship program and the need for providers in the field of addiction.
Self-Care & Mindfulness
International Self-Care Day (ISD), is celebrated annually on 24 July (24/7!) and provides a focus and opportunity to raise the profile of healthy lifestyle self-care programs around the world. We spoke with Banner – University physician and Psychiatry Department faculty member Pamela Mirsky, MD, FACLP, Director of the Banner – University Medical Center South Mindfulness Clinic, about self-care, mindfulness, and how they work together.
Time to Prioritize Indigenous Youth: Mind, Body, Spirit, and Culture
The American Indian Youth Wellness Camp is an example of a program working to engage youth in healthy lifestyle, including mental health, and the inclusion of parents ensures a family-based approach.