30. Physician Suicide and Its Highest and Best Use with Amandip Sidhu, CEO of Doctors in Distress

The suicide rate among physicians is the highest of any profession. What factors contribute to this and how can we help the healers?

In 2018, Amandip Sidhu lost his brother, Dr. Jagdip Sidhu, a cardiologist, to suicide. Because of extreme overwork, feelings of shame and failure, and burnout, Dr. Jagdip chose to end his life as the only solution to his misery.

In the wake of this tragedy, Amandip realized the importance of addressing the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals.  He then founded the charity Doctors in Distress to support physicians in their struggles, with the vision of preventing further cases of suicide.

Listen to know more about the story that inspired the founding of a charity for doctors.

He wanted to send a very clear message: “Look what's happened to me, look what the system has done to me.” So that really inspired me to really try and think how do I carry on that message.  I then sort of started to think I wanted to create something to make sure primarily that other people don't go through a similar phenomenon. - Amandip Sidhu

Highlights:

• (02:05) Dr. Jagdip Sidhu’s medical career
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• (04:47) Beginning of burnout
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• (11:36) Tragic loss
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• (13:51) Founding of a charitable mission
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• (21:27) The culture of medicine
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• (27:03) Two prime directives
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• (33:33) Stigma and taboo in healthcare
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• (37:10) Doctors in Distress’ services
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• (43:07) Dame Claire Gerada

Resources:

Doctors in Distress:

Website: https://www.doctors-in-distress.org.uk/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DoctorsinDistress

Linkedin Company Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/doctors-in-distress/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorsDistress

Connect with Amandip Sidhu:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandipsidhu/

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/YzQTYCBsAe4

Learn more about Dr. Dike and The Happy MD: https://linktr.ee/dikedrummond

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