Covid19 knocked everything off the table.
In the obsession to keep hospitals clear and deaths at a minimum our State and Federal Governments have kept many people at home. But what has that cost us elsewhere?
In our obsession, we fail to realise the effect on other parts of our health. There is a belief that cancer diagnosis and treatments are being missed. Suicide rates have increased too. But as a medical professional you already know that.
As you can imagine I have a lot of mental health experts as clients. I am also a Mental Health First Aider myself.
And you also know that Australia has a major mental health problem.
Here’s the thing that confuses me.
Mental health does not discriminate. It affects all races, all religions, all genders, and children. It also affects all business owners and workers. But you also know that too.
So let me ask. Why is it that medical professionals do not suffer from mental health illnesses?
It’s true.
When you look at the figures there are hardly any medical professionals who will admit they have a mental health illness. But you already knew that too. Or is it that everyone in the medical space believes that Medical Professionals are Superhuman and are unaffected mentally.
The medical industry, the government, and charities have made huge strides to remove the stigma attached to mental illness, yet it seems the medical industry is unable to do this on its own.
I know from my dealings with my clients that medical professionals are likely to suffer from a medical illness like any other person, but rarely will they tell anyone or rarely will they seek help.
If they do, it is always super discreet. We are talking CIA/ FBI spy level secrecy.
And I understand why.
There is the possibility that colleagues think you are not up to it anymore. Regulators can remove licences making matters worse.
I became a Mental Health First Aider because I could see the level of stress, tiredness and anxiety that my medical professional clients were going through and wanted to pick up the signs.
Some of my clients were concerned about their financial futures. Some had personal problems from raising teenage kids to marriage separations. Some just need to talk.
And this made them as normal as the general public. But because of the stigma attached and the possible consequences, many medical professionals will not seek help and will try to deal with it themselves.
It should not be that way.
If you are suffering in any way and feel you are unable to seek help, I would like to offer an alternative. If you would like to call me, I will offer all the time you need for no charge. It will be discreet and totally confidential. Many of you may not take this offer but on the off chance there is just one of you who do, it will make the effort worth it.
