"I Cannot Take This Any More!": Preparing Interns to Identify and Help a Struggling Colleague.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Wellness
• Mental Health Training

Background:

• Limited training exists for residents in identifying and supporting colleagues experiencing distress or suicidal ideation.
• Physician burnout and mental health challenges are significant concerns within the medical community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate interns' proficiency in recognizing a distressed colleague, identifying available support resources, and understanding their role in assisting peers.
• To assess the effectiveness of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in training and evaluating these skills.

Main Methods:

• An OSCE case was developed where standardized health professionals simulated a resident exhibiting signs of depression and a drinking problem.
• Interns interacted with the simulated resident to practice assessing symptoms, exploring emotional state and suicidal ideation, and recommending appropriate interventions and resources.

Main Results:

• While interns valued the practice, skill levels varied significantly. 60% inquired about emotional state, but only a third screened for depression, and less than half explored suicidal ideation.
• Only 32% of interns successfully directed the simulated colleague to specific mental health resources, although this increased to 54% if they first assessed emotional state and 80% if they screened for depression.

Conclusions:

• The OSCE effectively identified gaps in intern skills for assessing and supporting colleagues in distress.
• Experiential learning through OSCEs can enhance peer wellness initiatives and foster a culture of support within residency programs.
• Further development and targeted training are necessary to improve interns' ability to recognize and respond to colleagues at risk.