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. Use these resources to learn more and advocate for change.

The Myth

• The myth about requirements for probing questions about clinicians’ past mental health, addiction or substance use history on licensure and credentialing applications

Toolkits

• STFM Guidance for Program Director Response to Mental Health Questions
• American College of Physicians Advocacy Toolkit: Modernizing License and Credentialing Applications to Not Stigmatize Mental Health
• Dr Lorna Breen Foundation Toolkit: Remove Intrusive Mental Health Questions From Licensure and Credentialing Applications
• AAFP Physician Well-Being Toolkit (includes tools for advocating)

Policies and Positions

• American Medical Association Issue Brief
• Federation of State Medical Boards Policy on Physician Illness and Impairment

Papers

• Consistency Between State Medical License Applications and Recommendations Regarding Physician Mental Health
• FSMB Efforts on Physician Wellness and Burnout
• Medical Licensure Questions About Mental Illness and Compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act
• Medical Boards Must Avoid Contributing to Mental Health Stigma
• Professional Stigma of Mental Health Issues: Physicians Are Both the Cause and Solution
• 'If you seek help, you risk your career': Physician suicide needs solutions, not silence

Legislation

• Dr Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Law

Plans

• National Academy of Medicine National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being: Chapter on Supporting Mental Health and Reducing Stigma

Additional Resources

• Information on States Whose Medical Boards Have Changed the Intrusive Language on Their Licensure Applications

STFM Destigmatizing Mental Health Care Work Group

The above resources were compiled and reviewed by:

Linda Myerholtz, PhD
Director of Behavioral Science Education
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Jordyn Bailey, LCPC, NCC
Instructor of Family & Community Medicine
SIU Decatur Family Medicine Residency

Alexander Brown, PhD
Associate Program Director & Core Faculty
NH Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency

Lauren Brown-Berchtold, M.D.
Associate Program Director, Family Medicine Residency Program
Director, Advanced Obstetrics Fellowship
San Joaquin General Hospital

Lindsay T. Fazio, PhD
Director of Physician Wellbeing and Director of Behavioral Science
University of Chicago Family Medicine Residency

Shira Goldstein, MD 
Associate Director of Medical Student Education and Associate Program Director of FM-OB Fellowship
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 

Anne M. Lamoureux, PhD
Psychologist and Family Medicine Residency Faculty
Tripler Army Medical Center

Carlie Nikel, PsyD
Associate Program Director and Director of Behavioral Science,
UMKC Community and Family Medicine

Parvathi Perumareddi, DO
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University

Shannon Stark Taylor, PhD
Director of Behavioral Science and Senior Psychologist,
Prisma Health Family Medicine Residency Greenville

Terri Wall, PhD
Director of Behavioral Health
Ascension St. Vincent's Family Medicine Residency Program

Mary Theobald, MBA
Chief of Strategy and Innovation
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine