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Suicide Prevention

Suicide Awareness Month September 2023

On behalf of The Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine - Chattanooga, LifeBridge Chattanooga, and the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society are very pleased to be working together on special activities to highlight Suicide Awareness Month -- September 2023.  Included in the activities are two special sessions in our "Let's Be CLER" series:"

  • Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 7 - 8 am ET in Probasco Auditorium:  Speaker is Carrie Cunningham, MD, FACS, Surgeon and Faculty member at Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.  Her topic is "Removing the Mask."  CME credit is available for those who attend in person or participate in the live Zoom session provided.
  • Monday, October 2, 2023, from 7 - 8 am ET in Probasco Auditorium:  Speakers Dr. Johnson and Edie Sutter.  The topic is "When Your Best Isn't Enough."  CME Credit is available for those who attend in person or participate in the live Zoom session provided.

We will provide a light breakfast for our participants.

All Residents, Fellows, Medical and PA Students, as well as Area Physicians are encouraged to attend or participate by Zoom.  CME Credit is available for those practicing physicians who either attend in person or connect through the live Zoom and who complete the required evaluation form after the presentation.

View the flyer from the Medical Society about all the scheduled events. 

Resources: 

  • If you are actively contemplating suicide, are crisis, or worried about someone who may be, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.  Or you can Crisis Text the word TALK to 741741 for immediate access to someone who can help.   

  • You can contact our FT, onsite licensed Counselor, Lucy White, MEd, LPC-MHSP, at lucy.white@erlanger.org or calling her at 423.778.9420.

  • LifeBridge Chattanooga: A Physician Well-Being Initiative sponsored by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and its Medical Foundation.  Website: www.lifebridgechattanooga.org. Phone: 423.591.9830 s always answered.  Provides confidential access to care at no charge for area physicians, including Residents and Fellows, as well as Medical and UT PA students rotating in Chattanooga at our campus.

  • UT GME Employee Assistance Program for Residents/Fellows at no cost to them (through United Healthcare Employee Optum Well-Being Solutions ) --
    • Up to 7 visits at no cost for each issue or problem
    • Services can be requested by phone at 866.374.6061, or
    • Request online at www.liveandworkwell.com  (Access code UTGME)

National Physician Suicide Awareness Day

national physician suicide awareness day

Shine a Light - Speak Its Name!
September 17, 2023


Physician suicide is a tremendous issue in healthcare today. While estimates of the actual number of physician suicides vary, literature has shown that the relative risk for suicide being 2.27 times greater among women and 1.41 times higher among men versus the general population. Each physician suicide is a devastating loss affecting everyone - family, friends, colleagues and up to 1 million patients per year. It is both a very personal loss and a public health crisis.

Vision Zero calls on individuals, residency programs, health care organizations and national groups to make a commitment to break down stigma, increase awareness, open the conversation, decrease the fear of consequences, reach out to colleagues, recognize warning signs and learn to approach our colleagues who may be at risk. Let us challenge each other as individuals, communities, institutions and organizations to make changes to reach zero physician suicides.

"Shed light on this issue and change the culture of medicine to save our own lives."

Suicidal Signs

Your knowledge of suicidal signs will save lives. Educate yourself about suicide warning signs, listen and pay attention to your friends, family, co-workers and everyone around you. 

Here are warning signs to look out for:

  • Increased alcohol and drug use
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Withdrawal from friends, family and community
  • Dramatic mood swings
  • Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
  • Giving away possessions
  • Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
  • Saying goodbye to friends and family
  • Impulsive or reckless behavior 

Learn more from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Chattanooga Crisis Services: Hotline available 24/7 in Southeast Tennessee at 800.704.2651.

May 14, 2024