ABSTRACT
When a close colleague took her own life, Andrea Johnson, a mid-career physician at a large teaching hospital was devasted, blaming herself for not recognizing the signs of her colleague’s despair. But then it happened again. Another suicide by another physician. Now, Dr Johnson recognizes the perceived stigma and consequences to one’s career of seeking help. She feels grief, anger, and disillusionment regarding a hospital system that, she believes, gives little support to doctors in trouble. She calls for medical systems to develop prevention strategies and provide counselling for staff affected by traumatic events.
