LAUSR

The practice of psychiatry endeavors to lessen suffering and to enhance life satisfaction and wellbeing among people living with mental illness. For many healthcare providers, great professional and personal fulfillment is derived from the act of caring for others. Indeed, many clinicians would consider the privilege of caring for others to be worthy of great personal sacrifice. But, as we have observed in recent years, caring for the self is also necessary for clinicians to sustain meaningful care for others. Sustained self-sacrifice may lead to emotional exhaustion, diminished professional engagement, and what is referred to as “burnout.” Thankfully, the scientific merit of studying physician wellness is now well accepted, and a strong literature base is emerging to bring the insights of psychology, psychiatry, and medicine to bear on the wellness of practicing healthcare professionals. We see these developments as important not only for clinicians, but also for patients and society. What could be more important for the public good than a workforce of professionally engaged, effective, and personally fulfilled healthcare workers? Psychiatrists have many tools at their disposal for promoting patient wellness in the face of adversity and life stress, from psychotherapy treatments and mindfulness practices to daily habits known to boost happiness, like regular exercise and connection with loved ones. Given staggering rates of burnout and depression among trainees and practicing physicians alike, the time has come to apply what psychiatrists already know so well to enhance the wellbeing of our own colleagues and selves. The unique hazards in the practice of mental healthcare are well recognized, and include challenging patient characteristics and organizational demands [1]. The phenomenon of burnout cannot be ignored, as it places at risk both the professional’s quality of life and quality of work, with potential for grave individual outcomes for health professionals, as well as adverse consequences for patients.