Ep 170 Removing the mental health stigma with Dr. Stefanie Simmons

Find more information here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/impactwellbeingguide/index.html https://drlornabreen.org/become-an-ambassador/  Summary In this interview, Dr. Stephanie Simmons, an emergency room physician and Chief Medical Officer of the Lorna Breen Foundation, discussed the critical issue of mental health among healthcare workers. Dr. Simmons shared her personal experience with postpartum depression during residency and how it shaped her understanding of mental health stigma in medicine. She described her work leading professional well-being initiatives for 26,000 physicians across 1,000 hospitals in 36 states before the pandemic. Dr. Simmons detailed the foundation's mission to remove barriers to mental health care for healthcare workers, particularly focusing on changing licensing and credentialing practices that discriminate against those with past mental health treatment. She emphasized the importance of culturally competent care for healthcare workers and discussed legislative efforts, including the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act, which funded 45 projects across the country to promote healthcare workforce well-being. The conversation highlighted the three sources of stigma facing healthcare workers: internal, external, and institutional, and how the foundation is working to address these issues through advocacy, collaboration, and solution acceleration. Chapters Introduction and Personal Journey Dr. Simmons introduced herself as an emergency medicine physician and Chief Medical Officer of the Lorna Breen Foundation. She shared her personal experience with postpartum depression during residency and the initial fears that prevented her from seeking help, which later informed her work in professional well-being. Scaling Well-Being Programs Dr. Simmons explained her approach to implementing well-being programs for 26,000 physicians across 1,000 hospitals in 36 states, focusing on leadership training, coaching programs, and developing Wellness Champion networks at each site. The Impact of the Pandemic Dr. Simmons described how the pandemic changed the landscape of healthcare worker well-being, comparing pre-pandemic efforts to the increased urgency and visibility of mental health issues during the crisis. The Lorna Breen Foundation Dr. Simmons detailed the foundation's origins following Dr. Lorna Breen's death, its mission to change perceptions of mental health care as a sign of strength, and its focus on removing workplace obstacles to joyful medical practice. Addressing Stigma and Barriers Dr. Simmons discussed the three sources of stigma facing healthcare workers: internal, external, and institutional. She outlined the foundation's strategies to address these issues through legislative advocacy and systemic change. Legislative Advocacy and Impact Dr. Simmons explained the foundation's work on the Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act, its funding of 45 projects, and ongoing efforts to reauthorize the legislation and implement its findings. Action Items Dr. Simmons mentioned the need to remove invasive and stigmatizing language from licensing and credentialing applications Dr. Simmons emphasized the importance of increasing access to culturally competent mental healthcare for healthcare workers Dr. Simmons proposed implementing screening programs like the ISP (Interactive Screening Program) backed by culturally competent care Dr. Simmons recommended using the Impact Well-Being Guide as a starter resource for hospital leaders Dr. Simmons highlighted the need to advocate for changes in peer reference forms to eliminate questions about past mental health treatment