Recognizing and responding to distressed physicians and learners
CMA (adapted from More Feet on the Ground)
This guide helps people recognize signs of distress in physicians. These signs can vary, as distress manifests uniquely from person to person, but there are some common indicators. Approaching someone in distress can be uncomfortable, so the guide also offers practical recommendations for how to respond to medical professionals in distress, along with a comprehensive list of physician-specific resources as additional support.
Topics
Related resources
CFMS wellness page
This list from CFMS offers a set of school-specific wellness resources for medical students.
View resource CFMS wellness pageSample script for approaching distressed physicians
This sample script provides guidance on how to approach and offer peer support to a colleague in distress.
View resource Sample script for approaching distressed physiciansGrief recovery: How to help a colleague
Grief is inevitable in the medical profession. Physicians need support to ensure they remain healthy so they can provide the best patient care.
View resource Grief recovery: How to help a colleagueCreating a safe space toolkit
This toolkit helps leaders and policy makers develop, implement or improve workplace peer support programs for health care providers.
View resource Creating a safe space toolkitPhysician wellness during the pandemic
This infographic summarizes the results from a CMA survey assessing physician wellness during the pandemic in a sample of Canadian physicians and residents.
View resource Physician wellness during the pandemicMeaning in medicine: Frontline physicians in Ukraine
This episode explores why two Canadian emergency doctors chose to volunteer at the Ukraine/Poland border and how the experience left them with a renewed sense of purpose in medicine.
View resource Meaning in medicine: Frontline physicians in UkraineAre you in distress? Get help now.
Call 911 or access physician health and wellness supports.
Are you in distress? Get help now.