For those who choose to work in them, health care professions can be equally energizing and draining, motivating and stressing, rewarding and daunting.
Emotionally charged patient illnesses, intellectually challenging problems to solve, seemingly frequent “failures,” heavy workloads, demanding schedules, sometimes-toxic work environments, occasionally hostile patients or families or colleagues, and many more pressures can at times feel like it's all too much — even for the strongest of characters.
Yet, because of mental health stigma, gender bias and expectations, looming funding deadlines or a host of other pressures, these stressors continue to threaten the health and well-being of the people who are caring for patients and solving the world's medical mysteries.
“Health care workers and scientists are prone to burnout and at an increased risk for mental health challenges, yet the demand for physicians and scientists continues to grow,” said Kristen Fitzgerald, wellness and engagement program manager for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development (FAPD). “Learning to recognize the signs of burnout and being aware of mental health and wellness resources is important for all members of the IU School of Medicine community.”
In its continuing effort to recognize the factors working against the mental health and well-being of our faculty — as well as our staff, trainees and learners — and to improve them, FAPD is bringing a unique program to the Indiana University School of Medicine community.
“Five Days to Friday” is a live, multimedia, theatrical production that approaches this serious topic through a new, entertaining lens with a sincere goal: Bring light to the problem, start a conversation, and energize a community around an effort to change. It is produced by the New Theater of Medicine, an organization founded by a physician and a professional theater artist.
The show follows the story of a prominent general surgeon and a chief resident as they attempt to navigate a week of familiar challenges related to their personal and professional lives. After the show, representatives from the New Theater of Medicine, the IU School of Medicine Department of Mental Health Services and FAPD will lead a discussion about mental health and well-being, the resources available to support our community and what can be done to change the culture.
“I hope ‘Five Days to Friday’ will be an engaging performance where attendees will see parts of themselves reflected,” said Fitzgerald. “It is my goal that attendees leave the performance feeling seen and heard with a better understanding of the resources available to them to combat some of the stressors highlighted during the performance.”
The in-person event is open to all members of the IU School of Medicine community — faculty, staff, trainees and learners. Register below.
