{"id":53014,"date":"2025-07-10T02:57:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T02:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/53014\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T02:57:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T02:57:17","slug":"speaking-the-unspoken-creating-a-safe-space-for-caregivers-university-of-utah-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/53014\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaking the Unspoken: Creating a Safe Space for Caregivers | University of Utah Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every day, people who work in health care show up to care for others\u2014even when they\u2019re struggling themselves. But for a long time, there\u2019s been an unspoken rule for many in our profession: Don\u2019t talk about your own mental health.<\/p>\n

That silence has hurt too many people.<\/p>\n

This spring, University of Utah Health received national recognition as a Wellbeing First Champion from the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes\u2019 Foundation<\/a>. The award confirms that our credentialing applications no longer include outdated, intrusive mental health questions.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re sending a clear message to our workforce: It\u2019s safe to ask for help here.<\/p>\n

Stigma and Misconceptions About Seeking Mental Health Support\n <\/p>\n

\"Wellbeing <\/p>\n

For years, health care workers across the country avoided getting mental health care. They were afraid it might hurt their careers. Some drove across state lines to visit a therapist. Others used fake names and paid in cash, just to avoid answering a single question: \u201cHave you ever received mental health treatment?\u201d<\/p>\n

That one question had no bearing on a clinician’s ability to care for patients. But it carried a heavy weight. It sent the message that getting support was a risk. That seeking care might cost you your job.<\/p>\n

At U of U Health, we believe the opposite is true. Getting support makes us stronger.<\/p>\n

Inspired by Lorna Breen\u2019s Legacy<\/p>\n

Lorna Breen, MD, was a respected emergency medicine physician in New York City. She was also a runner, a skier, a cellist, and a beloved daughter and sister. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she got sick with the virus. Like many others, she struggled to return to work, likely due to long COVID and depression. Even though she sought inpatient treatment, she later died by suicide.<\/p>\n

Dr. Breen\u2019s family believes stigma surrounding mental health care played a role. In response, they created the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation to change how health systems support the mental health of their caregivers\u2014starting with credentialing and access to mental health resources and services.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The foundation\u2019s work helps organizations across the country, including ours, update policies and protect providers. We\u2019re proud to be part of that movement.<\/p>\n

\"Three
\n We Were Already Doing the Work<\/p>\n

Being recognized as a Wellbeing First Champion takes on additional meaning when we reflect on our proactive approach. U of U Health had already removed the intrusive question from its forms before the award existed. We weren\u2019t checking a box. We were doing what we thought was right.<\/p>\n

We know from research and experience that asking about past mental health treatment doesn\u2019t predict how well someone will do their job. If anything, it may discourage people from getting the support they need. And that can affect everything\u2014from patient safety to personal well-being.<\/p>\n

This award is a sign that we\u2019re walking the walk. It\u2019s a visible commitment to clinician well-being and a message to our current and future employees: it\u2019s safe to get help here.<\/p>\n

Support at Every Level<\/p>\n

Mental health support doesn\u2019t start and stop with policy changes. It has to show up at every level: for individuals, for teams, and across the organization.<\/p>\n

At the individual level<\/strong>, our Resiliency Center<\/a> provides confidential therapy to U of U Health employees. Over time, we\u2019ve seen how word can spread. One person gets support, and then their coworkers do, too. That ripple effect matters.<\/p>\n

At the team level<\/strong>, we offer something called Code Lavender<\/strong>. It\u2019s a coordinated response for teams impacted by distressing events\u2014such as the sudden loss of a patient or a critical incident in the emergency department. When someone calls a Code Lavender, the Resiliency Center steps in to listen, help, and connect people to care. It\u2019s not therapy for everyone. It\u2019s simply a way to validate and address the emotional reality of working in health care.<\/p>\n

And at the organizational level<\/strong>, we\u2019re continuing to implement policies and processes centered around well-being. We\u2019re also working toward Gold status in the American Medical Association\u2019s Joy in Medicine<\/a> program, with this credentialing update as one part of that journey.<\/p>\n

\"Sorenson
\n A Message for Those Who Are Struggling<\/p>\n

If you’re a clinician and you’re struggling, you’re not alone. If you’re unsure about asking for help, you’re not the only one. And if you\u2019re worried that reaching out might put your job at risk, we want you to know that, at U of U Health, it won\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Your stress and emotional pain matter. They\u2019re valid. And wanting support means you care\u2014about yourself, your patients, and your work. Seeking help isn\u2019t weakness. It\u2019s courage.<\/p>\n

Take the leap. You deserve to feel supported.<\/p>\n

What You Can Do<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re reading this as a health care worker<\/strong>:<\/p>\n