The following article discusses the topic of suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, call 988 for assistance. 

Today, the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) honors National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (NPSADay) to help shift the health care system from one where physicians think burnout, depression or suicidal thoughts are something they must overcome by themselves to one where they see the support system around them. The demands of the practice of medicine never cease. Beyond patient interactions exists a reality of pressure and sacrifice. TMA is committed to work on behalf of physicians to provide resources and influence change that positively impacts the professional medical environment.

Past years have shown the increased need for awareness and action surrounding physician wellness, specifically regarding the risk of suicide among physicians. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), physician burnout rates have dropped to below 45% in 2025, the lowest level recorded since before COVID-19. While this data is promising, burnout and the risk of suicide remains. According to a study by The Physicians Foundation, more than half of physicians still report they often have feelings of burnout, compared to four in ten before the pandemic in 2018. More than one-third (34%) of physicians felt hopeless or that they have no purpose, and nearly half of physicians (46%) report withdrawing from family, friends and coworkers. As a result, TMA will continue to meet the needs of physicians’ wellbeing by supporting healthcare policy that removes stigma’s and promoting valuable wellness resources that are accessible to all physicians.

In 2025, TMA actively supported legislation which allows medical boards to issue conditional licenses to new state applicants who disclose past mental health diagnoses without reporting to the National Practitioner Data Bank. The legislation was introduced and lobbied by TMA members, Drs. Michael Baron and Reeves Johnson. It passed unanimously and will become effective Jan. 1, 2026.

“TMA is thrilled with the passage of Public Chapter 317 by TMA members, Sen. Richard Briggs, MD and Rep. Sabi Kumar, MD,” said Julie Griffin, Vice President of Government Affairs for TMA. “This law will go a long way in helping medical license applicants who have completed treatment for substance use disorder to obtain an initial medical license without the stigma of a public licensure restriction. I applaud these lawmakers for taking this action to promote the wellbeing of physicians starting their medical careers or continuing them here in Tennessee.”

Additionally, TMA continues to update the online wellness resource page with helpful news, studies and resources that advance wellness education and accessibility. These resources can be accessed at tnmed.org/member-resources/physician-wellness/.  

Further efforts to address physician burnout and support wellbeing include a collaborative effort among TMA and its largest regional medical societies to jointly present “Resilience in Medicine: A Wellness Webinar Series.” This virtual education series is designed to equip physicians with strategies for resilience, support and professional fulfillment. The series will kick off on September 25, 2025 and will continue through May 2026. Webinars will address critical topics like wellness initiatives, artificial intelligence in medicine, legislative advocacy and reform, peer support, malpractice risk management and systems-level burnout interventions. The series is available to members at no cost. Register today at tnmed.org/wellness-webinar.

TMA wants to remind physicians that there is always help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, call 988 for assistance. TMA staff recently tested the 988-crisis line, and within one minute a staff person was spoken to by someone trained to help guide individuals through a crisis.