View full-feature award-winning documentary by Emmy-winning filmmaker that exposes the doctor suicide crisis—and offers SOLUTIONS—followed by expert panels and interactive Q/A. Every Sunday! Register here & View trailer .
Questions? Need help? Contact Dr. Wible here.
***
Dr. Leigh Sundem, a phenomenal physician died by suicide. Accomplished & super-smart with a 4.0 GPA, even aced the MCAT, yet was unmatched to residency 3 times . . . so she scrambled twice into temporary spots (but couldn’t get anything the third time). Even though she had 16 academic awards, 6 professional leadership positions, 5 research projects, 8 scientific publications, 9 scientific presentations, 10 years of teaching experience, and membership in 12 professional organizations, Leigh was left unemployable due to discrimination WITHIN medicine from her drug addiction as a teen For which she was a vocal advocate—celebrated by the nation—15 years clean & sober, a success story! Devoted to healing others. But the medical profession killed her dream. In her suicide note, she leaves us one request. . . .
Please join us for SOLUTIONS, Sunday, May 3—an expert panel discussion after viewing the Do No Harm documentary by Emmy-winning filmmaker exposing the hidden suicide crisis among doctors. Learn simple ways you can prevent the loss of any more beautiful people like Leigh. View trailer & join us here.
***
Dr. Leigh Sundem died by suicide when she was obstructed from practicing medicine due to discrimination related to her drug addiction as a teen. Clean & sober 15 years, she was an advocate for others in recovery, even testifying to congress. With countless awards in med school, Leigh was a phenomenal physician, yet (after 3 years of applying) was never accepted into required residency training. Leigh did not want to die. Unmatched to residency, unemployed with student loans due, she saw no way out. In her suicide note, she asked her family to contact me & gave us instructions to share the truth so her story “goes viral” and starts a REAL conversation about ending the stigma of addiction in medicine. So Please . . .
1) Celebrate Leigh now by sharing your addiction or mental health recovery.
2) Support her Memorial Scholarship here.
3) Watch the award-winning film by Emmy-winning filmmaker on SUNDAY, MAY 3 on our doctor suicide crisis with an expert panel addressing the specific factors that led to Leigh’s suicide so we never lose one more doctor again. Register here. (10% of film proceeds will be donated to Leigh Sundem Memorial Scholarship). Please share. View movie trailer (and join us Sundays in May for additional screenings & interactive expert panel discussions).
***
Reporter: Here on CBS in Los Angeles every week we’re taking a deeper look into the toll that this pandemic is taking on our mental health and how we can manage our new normal. Our healthcare workers are facing trauma no one could ever prepare for—a doctor in New York, for example, who recovered from COVID-19 and then continued to treat other patients even ended up taking her own life. Joining me now to talk about this is Dr. Pamela Wible. She runs a suicide prevention hotline for physicians and is also the author of Physician Suicide Letters—Answered. (free audiobook) Doctor, thank you for the time such a serious and important topic right now.
Dr. Wible: Thank you for having me and thank you for broaching this topic which has been so taboo quite honestly for a long time.
***
Hero doctor dies by suicide, and yes, she’s a hero—and she deserves to be honored.
Lorna Breen, a top NYC doctor who recovered from Coronavirus, was in “excruciating” emotional pain watching so many patients die. With no history of mental illness, yet clearly traumatized, she succumbed to suicide on Sunday, April 26.
Some feel that honoring physician suicide victims alongside doctors who died from Covid is disrespectful to their losses. Yet acute respiratory distress and acute mental health distress due to Covid are both real medical conditions. Both are deadly. Both kill physicians.
PTSD among health professionals will claim more lives. I’ve spoken to thousands of distressed and suicidal doctors. They are not weak. They should not be punished by medical boards or hospitals for needing psychiatric help—a huge deterrent to care. Doctors are suffering and deserve our help, compassion, and respect.
Please join me today in ending the stigma by honoring Dr. Lorna Breen—a true hero.
***
Doctor revived after suicide. Here's what he says.
