Caring For Those Who Care for Us: Reflections from Medscape #PsychUpdateSpring23
Recently, we had the privilege of attending Psychiatry Update Spring 2023 where we explored the latest advances in the treatment and management of common and complex psychiatric disorders, as well as new developments in this field. We are grateful to MedscapeLIVE for having us as a part of this transformative event.
The history of Psychiatry starts with ancient India, and in many texts this study was closely tied to the supernatural. The stigma surrounding getting mental health support for physicians and healthcare workers is longstanding. Ancient religious leaders sometimes resorted to exorcism and barbaric methods. Suicide loss is also a complex death, and some loss survivors have grief hallucinations, and complicated ghost stories. We wanted to recognize the complex and rich history of Psychiatry, and invited conversation about how advocacy can be our personal magic.
At our Sharp Index booth, we presented opportunities to share encouraging words, artwork, and thank you notes. We were inspired by the doctors, nurses, technicians, transporters, EMTs, pharmacists and everyone who supports patient care and is rising to the occasion, caring for our most vulnerable populations. Those who stopped by the booth wrote words of encouragement and left with a tarot card, which can help spark a conversation with a therapist, find meaning in life circumstances, and identify solutions.
We also met wonderful people working to heal our healers, like Next18, a fellow nonprofit that offers free golf camps to veterans with disabilities and first responders. They also provide introductions to resources such as yoga, meditation, breathwork, mindfulness, and body scans, small group therapy sessions, reiki, journaling, and others. We attended sessions on mental health amongst mental health professionals and how psychedelics and MDMA work to treat serious mental illness.
We want to thank Medscape Live for their partnership and leadership in healthcare. Medscape is donating $10 for each registrant which will go towards our work to improve advocacy, technology, scholarships, and support for healthcare workers' mental health. By supporting us, they are helping us address the critical issue of psychiatrist burnout and suicide, and ultimately improving healthcare for everyone.
Sharp Index is primarily funded through grassroots volunteers and supporters. Through donations, we are able to provide direct support through scholarships and the caring for caregivers fund, as well as other local initiatives. Annually, we recognize leaders in mental health through our awards.
We love amplifying the voices of physicians and other leaders in the industry by communicating with mental health and burnout advocates. We are looking for advocates who are interested in peer to peer advocacy and fundraising to help us raise awareness and funds for our cause. Join us now and be part of the movement towards a healthier healthcare industry.
We encourage supporters and advocates who want to get involved with us to donate to Sharp Index. Together, we can make a difference and improve the lives of psychiatrists, physicians, healthcare workers and patients. Thank you, Medscape, for supporting us and for being a part of this important work.
