James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Burnt out, broken down and overwhelmed — these aren’t the words you’d typically use to describe your local GP.
On the contrary, doctors and medical professionals are frequently thought of as switched on and ready to tackle any issue. They’re practitioners at the top of their game.
Yet, the sad reality is many medical professionals are struggling under the immense pressures of their work, with some even tragically taking their own lives.
Think about it. How many jobs are there where your decision could kill somebody? That’s the burden doctors carry daily — a burden that they willingly accept in the service of others.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
We typically need a doctor’s help when emotions are running high, when we’re at a low point or not feeling our best, or maybe have life-changing news.
We turn to them when we fear the worst about that lump we discovered while taking a shower, the positive pregnancy test we took an hour earlier or when we’ve had enough of a niggling cough that won’t go away.
In return, there’s an expectation doctors will be authoritative, empathetic, alert and highly informed in their dealings with us.
But a day in the life of a doctor isn’t so simple. When we arrive at the practice, we expect the doctor will solve our issues swiftly and with care.
Then comes the part when we leave the practice. We carry on with our day, armed with a diagnosis, advice or medication to help us on the road back to health.
But what about the doctor who must quickly ready themselves for the next consultation? There’s every chance they just told someone they have a terrible illness, and now they must reorganise their thought pattern for the next patient.
This emotional seesaw is repeated several times throughout the day, every day.
Yet doctors continually remain stoic in the face of such pressures because it’s ingrained from the early days of their training.
THE WARNING SIGNS
We’ve taken huge strides as a society to raise awareness of the prevalence of mental health issues.
For example, mental illness is now the number one reason patients will see their GP, accounting for 62 per cent of all consultations.
However, the mental health of our medical practitioners needs far greater attention and action. A survey by Beyond Blue found one in five medical students and one in 10 doctors had suicidal thoughts in the previous year.
This statistic viewed by itself is alarming, but even more concerning was the answer to the question: Why wouldn’t you get help for anxiety or depression?
The survey noted more than one in three respondents cited “embarrassment” as a barrier to treatment, or a perceived “impact on registration and right to practice”.
Furthermore, four in 10 agreed “many doctors think less of (other) doctors who have experienced depression or anxiety”.
Let’s take a step back to unpack what these statistics tell us.
Firstly, our doctors are under immense stress leading to higher than average incidences of mental illness and suicide.
Secondly, doctors are reluctant to get the help they need.
It shows stigma is rife within the medical community and doctors who admit they need mental health assistance are somehow tainted or inferior.
This goes a long way in explaining why doctor suicide is a pressing issue.
The fear of being reported by another doctor for seeking help is real and we need laws that do not actively discourage anyone from accessing medical treatment.
Doctors should have the same rights to confidential treatment as their own patients.
QUASHING STIGMAS
Education around this issue must start on the first day of training for a medical student if we have any hope of eliminating stigmas associated with seeking help for mental health issues. Medical professionals need to feel comfortable about voicing their struggles without concern for being judged, bullied or held back from progressing.
There’s more we can be doing as patients too.
The first step is to recognise that your medical practitioner is human like you. This isn’t to say their standard of care should be affected by their personal circumstances but rather patients can be cognisant of the pressures doctors are facing.
Even a simple thank you as a token of your appreciation can make their day.
I know I’ve personally been touched by the kind words of a patient I was able to help, and it gave me a tremendous boost to face the rest of the day ahead.
We also need more support services in place to help doctors with their workloads.
On a daily basis, continually feeling rushed, running late and not giving some patients adequate time can really contribute to stress levels.
For example, rebate systems need to be reviewed to ensure doctors have enough time with those who require longer care — especially high-risk groups such as those with mental health issues or the young and elderly.
It’s perhaps ironic to think that the people we trust to tend to our health and wellbeing are also the ones in need of such care.
Health professionals take the Hippocratic Oath so they can make a difference in the lives of others.
However, they also need our support in return, and it’s time we took this need seriously.
WHERE TO GET HELP:
If you are worried about your or someone else’s mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call 111.
If you need to talk to someone, the following free helplines operate 24/7:
DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757
LIFELINE: 0800 543 354
NEED TO TALK? Call or text 1737
SAMARITANS: 0800 726 666
YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633 or text 234
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
[email protected]
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
