News

March 31, 2023—Health care professionals, including faculty, residents, and students, are reluctant to seek mental health treatment due to concerns about licensure and credentialing and the perceptions of supervisors, peers, and patients. Questions on state licensing applications and those used for hospital, medical group, and health plan credentialing should not deter physicians, faculty, residents, and students from getting the care they need.

During May:

• Learn more about mental health stigma and advocate for change
• Share social media messages and graphics on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram 
• Read and share new Guidance for Program Director Response to Mental Health Questions

Mental Health Awareness Month marks the beginning of an STFM project to reduce mental health stigma. Over the next year, STFM members Timothy Riley, MD, and Terri Wall, PhD, will be leading a series of presentations at family medicine conferences in to:

• Increase awareness of factors contributing to faculty, resident, and student reluctance to seek mental health treatment
• Empower family medicine leaders, faculty, residents, and students to break the cycle of mental health stigma

Be sure to stop by the mental health stigma table in the partner/exhibit area at STFM's Annual Spring Conference in May. STFM members will walk you through the steps to advocate for the removal of intrusive mental health questions from licensure and credentialing applications in your state.