Faculty Disclosure of Personal Mental Health History and Resident Physician Perceptions of Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness

Bibliographic Data

ID21614243
AuthorsBrianna E Vaa (0000-0002-3018-2517, Mayo Clinic, corresponding author), Brianna E Vaa Stelling (B.E. Vaa Stellingis assistant professor of medicine, Division of Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID:.), Colin P West (0000-0003-1628-5023, C.P. Westis professor of medicine, medical education, and biostatistics, Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; ORCID:.)
Year2021
Volume96
Issue5
Pages682-685
Publication date2021-05-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAcademic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1040-2446 • E-ISSN: 1938-808X
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/acm.0000000000003941
PMID33496429
OpenAlexW3122214150
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited9

PROBLEM: Distress, depression, and burnout are common during medical training. Stigma surrounding seeking help for mental illness during medical training may involve fear of negative peer perceptions, academic jeopardy, and adverse future career consequences. Faculty disclosure of personal mental health illness may reduce stigma surrounding mental health disorders and reassure and encourage trainees to seek help when needed. APPROACH: The authors aimed to assess the impact of faculty disclosure of mental health issues on stigma toward help-seeking during training, self-reflection about mental health, and resident physician awareness of mental health resources. Three self-selected faculty members shared their personal experiences with depression and mental health during a confidential noon conference intended for internal medicine residents at Mayo Clinic Rochester as part of their core curriculum in December 2016. Institutional and community mental health resources were provided. After the conference, attendees completed an anonymous survey assessing self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding mental health during medical training. OUTCOMES: One hundred percent of residents (39/39) agreed that they enjoyed the conference. Thirty-five of 39 (89.7%) respondents agreed that their knowledge of available mental health resources increased and 33/39 (84.6%) agreed they were more likely to pursue mental health resources after attending the conference. Thirty-eight of 39 (97.4%) residents agreed that faculty sharing their personal struggles destigmatizes mental health issues during training, and the same percentage reported engaging in postconference self-reflection regarding their own mental health and well-being. NEXT STEPS: Resident conference sessions during which faculty self-disclose personal mental health experiences may help decrease the stigma of mental health issues during medical training and increase the likelihood residents will seek assistance when needed. The authors encourage further study of longer-term outcomes and actual help-seeking behaviors across learner levels and training environments

Confidentiality · Family medicine · Mental distress · Mental health · Mental illness · Psychiatry · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Innovations in Medical Education · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology

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