Suicide Prevention & Mental Health: A Message From Liz Arena, DO
As physicians and APPs, we are at high risk of not only burnout and chronic stress but also depression, anxiety, and suicide risk. We are two times more likely than the general population to think about suicide, and women in our profession have higher rates of death by suicide than the general population.
As healthcare providers, we are at increased risk due to multiple factors, including long work hours, exposure to trauma, emotional demands, and challenging populations that can exacerbate compassion fatigue. In addition to these risk factors, medical culture has traditionally created a stigma around asking for support and accessing assistance.
Here at Intermountain Health, we are actively shifting our culture to create compassionate, inclusive and safe environments where noticing, asking questions, and getting support is the norm, not the exception – not just with our patients, but with each other as well.
As your Peaks director of Physician and APP Well-Being & Experience, I’m dedicated to supporting your personal and professional capability to live the healthiest lives possible while you carry out that mission for our patients. I want to make seeking support simple, clear and easy for you. If you’re ever having a challenge getting support, please reach out – I'm here as a resource for you.
I’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the ways Intermountain Health is removing barriers to care and addressing drivers of suicide among caregivers.
Asking for and receiving support is a skill that gets easier with regular repetition, just like building muscle in the gym. In the spirit of building that habit, whenever you’re ever in need of a resource, you are welcome to contact me directly via Teams or email (contact information is at the bottom of this message). You can also explore our Physician and APP Well-being page. I encourage you to take care of yourself and your colleagues by utilizing these tools and resources.
Removing stigma around seeking treatment
Intermountain removed stigmatizing questions from the credentialing process in all our geographies. This means that physicians and APPs won't lose their license for being seen for behavioral health issues. I’m proud to share that we were awarded the 2024 and 2025 Lorna Breen Champion Certificate for this work. Read more.
Encouraging conversations about workplace stress
We have implemented several best practices to create opportunities to talk openly about mental health and well-being:
We encourage all caregivers to use the language of the Stress Continuum in regular huddles, conversations, and meetings. This tool helps normalize being open and honest about how we’re doing and gives us the opportunity to support one another.
Twice-monthly physician and APP leader roundtables create opportunities to raise concerns and share best practices to reduce provider burnout. If you’re interested and not already on our invite list, please opt in here – we'd love to have you!
Suicide prevention Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) training is available in Workday to help educate and empower you to have a life-saving conversation with a colleague, patient, friend, or loved one.
Providing access to resources and treatment
Intermountain Health caregivers have various avenues to receive emotional support and behavioral health services.
The Intermountain Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is confidential, free, and available 24/7 for employed caregivers and their immediate family members. Call 1-800-832-7733 to access.
Crisis response support is available to help teams with mental and emotional support after an unexpected crisis. To initiate a crisis response huddle, call the Employee Assistance program at 1-800-832-7733.
Intermountain Health Peer support team members provide confidential, peer-to-peer emotional support for both our affiliate and employed physicians and APPs. Email PeerSupport@imail.org. Please reach out to me directly if you are not connected with a peer supporter within one week. Our goal is a fast, efficient, and supportive connection for you.
Caregivers who prefer to seek support from non-Intermountain Health experts can call the Physician Support Line for free, confidential support from psychiatrists and/or access behavioral health providers through their Intermountain Health-provided health plan.
The Colorado Physician Health Program and the Maximus Montana Recovery program provide free, confidential services to physicians seeking support for physical well-being, mental health, and substance use disorders.
Many other tools and trainings are outlined in this flyer.
Addressing sources of stress and burnout
Recognizing that administrative burdens can lead to burnout, we are actively working to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary workload.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rob Ferguson shared some of our work in this area in this article.
In a culture of high-performing, hard-working people whose focus is on helping others, it can be all too easy to neglect our own needs for too long. I want to remind all of us that we can’t pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is the least selfish thing you can do. Thank you for your dedication, hard work, and for putting your own well-being on your to-do list. Please continue to reach out and contact me with physician and APP well-being, experience, support, and resources. I’d love to connect and serve you personally. Please let me and my team know how we can further support you as you serve our patients and mission.
With Caring,
Liz Arena, DO, MPH, FACR
Elizabeth.arena@imail.org
Elizabeth Arena on Teams
P.S. Click here for a summary of my recent Well-being Grand Rounds presentation on Burnout if you don’t have time to watch the video.