ACS raises awareness about surgeon suicide

Editor's Note

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on September 10 announced that through its Surgeon Well-Being program, it is striving to build awareness about surgeon suicide during September, which is National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month.

ACS is emphasizing Physician Suicide Awareness Day, September 17, in order to destigmatize seeking assistance for mental health among physicians, and it will release a series of recorded lectures and stories throughout the month.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional stress for healthcare professionals already working in a stressful profession, and physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, ACS says.