National Physician Suicide Awareness Day is September 17

September 17, 2026

September 17 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day—a day to remember physicians who have died by suicide, and to strengthen the commitment to preventing future loss.  

Physicians spend their careers caring for others. Yet when they are struggling, stigma and concerns about confidentiality or professional consequences can make it difficult to seek mental healthcare or support. Professional culture and the expectation to simply keep going can create additional barriers.  

Preventing physician suicide is not solely an individual responsibility. It also requires healthcare organizations, and the profession, to create environments that support physicians' well-being, reduce stigma, protect confidentiality, remove barriers to mental healthcare, and make support easier to access, before distress becomes a crisis.  

If you are concerned about a physician colleague and aren't sure what to look for or what to do, the AMA’s Preventing Physician Suicide: Identify and Support At-Risk Physicians toolkit offers practical guidance on recognizing warning signs, approaching a colleague, encouraging connection to care, and creating an environment where getting help is easier.  

Through Treat Yourself First, the MMA is working with partners across the state to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and help-seeking among healthcare professionals, and to make it easier to find confidential support and resources when they are needed.  

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.