Chair’s Column September 2026: Welcome to the New Academic Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. With the start of this academic year, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning trainees, faculty, and staff. We are delighted to have you as part of our University of Toronto Department of Medicine community, and I look forward to an excellent year ahead.

In lieu of a chair’s column this month, Dr. Julie Maggi, Psychiatrist at St. Michael’s Hospital and Director of Faculty Wellness in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and Dr. Umberin Najeeb, Vice Chair of Culture and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine, have co-written a special guest column related to suicide prevention. I am grateful to both of them for sharing their expertise on this important topic.

If you have thoughts or ideas to share on this or any other topic, feel free to email me or to use this anonymous link. I’m also available for individual or small group meetings, and self-bookings can be made through Calendly.

Sincerely,
Moira

Dr. Moira Kapral
Sir John and Lady Eaton Professor and Chair, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto

Supporting Each Other: Reducing Stigma and Fostering Wellbeing in Medicine 

Guest Column by Dr. Julie Maggi, Psychiatrist at St. Michael’s Hospital and Director of Faculty Wellness in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and Dr. Umberin Najeeb, Vice Chair of Culture and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine

September is recognized as Suicide Awareness Month in Canada, with September 10^th being World Suicide Prevention Day. This is an important time for raising awareness, reducing stigma, and actively connecting one another to the supports and resources we need to thrive.

In medicine, our training often conditions us to prioritize the care of others above all else. Yet, sustaining our professional community requires an equal commitment to caring for ourselves and our colleagues. Emotional and mental health directly impacts our clinical judgment, our resilience, and our capacity to find meaning and longevity in our careers.  

Within the Department of Medicine, we recognize that individual resilience cannot exist in a vacuum; it requires a robust, supportive organizational ecosystem. In the Culture and Inclusion portfolio, professional wellbeing is one of three core pillars, standing side-by-side with mentorship and equity, diversity, and inclusion. 

Our commitment goes beyond merely encouraging self-care. We are dedicated to building compassionate leadership, developing supportive policies and procedures, and addressing organizational barriers. This work benefits greatly from strong institutional partnerships, including close collaboration with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (TFoM) to ensure our academic and clinical environments treat wellbeing as a shared operational responsibility rather than an individual burden. A general approach to emotional and mental wellbeing is shared below.

Addressing Fears and Dismantling Stigma 

We will start with trying to allay fears because that is often what is most on people’s minds when they think about accessing supports. It is certainly easy for us to tell each other to access help, but we know that mental health stigma – i.e. negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes that people hold towards those who experience mental health conditions – impact an individual’s decision to reach out for support. Stigma operates at multiple levels – the individual (self-stigma), our professional community (fear of judgement from our peers), and structural stigma (fear of the professional consequences including licensure, privileges, professional advancement, and effects on future acquisition of insurance).

An open dialogue (like this guest column) can foster and help counter these fears by demonstrating that seeking help is entirely compatible with – and indeed necessary for – professional excellence. Seeking proper supports for our wellbeing enhances our workplace function. The OMA Physician Health Program has played a crucial role in supporting physicians, connecting them to care, and helping physicians to navigate the complexities of health and career.  We encourage you to watch this 2-minute video featuring a few of our physician colleagues who sought help and the impact it had on them. 

When you apply for renewal of hospital privileges, take a moment to notice how the questions pertaining to health are worded. Many hospitals have structured questions to ensure that seeking assistance for manageable health concerns does not penalize or discourage practitioners from getting the care they deserve and need. You may want to inquire if this is the case for your hospital, and if not, share this information with leadership. 

Recognizing Colleagues in Distress: The Role of Psychological First Aid 

We all share a responsibility to look out for one another. Recognizing when a colleague or loved one is struggling is an important step in supporting them. Practicing psychological first aid involves noticing changes in behavior and responding with empathy, rather than avoidance. 

Some signs that a colleague may be in distress can include: 

• Noticeable changes in mood, energy, or temperament (e.g., unusual withdrawal, irritability, or exhaustion). 

• A sudden decline in professional engagement, missed meetings, or uncharacteristic delays in clinical duties. 

• Expressing feelings of hopelessness, cynicism, severe burnout, or being trapped under an unbearable weight. 

The Mental Health Continuum Model, utilized by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, is a helpful tool that can be used both as a self-check-in or as a template to understand how others may be doing. We encourage you to use this link to explore the tool and check-in on how you’re doing.  

What to do: First, check in with yourself. Do you feel able to provide support to another person? Before we can help others, we must feel well enough emotionally to do so. If you do not feel like you are able to, this is OK. If you feel able, approach the person privately with genuine empathy and curiosity. Express your care simply, listen without judgment, and validate their experience. 

What to avoid: Do not attempt to diagnose, minimize feelings with platitudes or toxic positivity ("it could be worse"), or offer hasty, oversimplified fixes. Your primary role is to listen, provide a safe space, and help bridge the gap to professional resources. Helping colleagues feel heard and understood can assist them to feel safe and open to receiving a connection to a professional who can provide them with formal supports. Remember that emotional support extends beyond the workplace – it may be your colleague, a family member, or a friend who is quietly navigating a crisis.

Seeking Support: How and Where to Turn 

If you, a colleague, or a loved one is struggling, a robust network of confidential support is available. 

• Institutional and Workplace Accommodations: Departmental and hospital leadership can assist with workload adjustments, leaves, or operational accommodations. Guidance and navigation can be accessed through institutional wellness channels. The Ontario Medical Association has developed resources to assist physicians who work in hospitals in accessing accommodation for health disabilities. 

• Professional Associations: The OMA Physician Health Program and specialized regional networks offer confidential, peer-driven assistance tailored to medical professionals. 

• Immediate Crisis Support: To support those in immediate crisis, Canada’s national suicide crisis helpline, 9-8-8, offers free, confidential support by call or text, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you or someone you know is in acute distress, help is always within reach. 

Key Resources for Faculty and Learners 

• Institutional Channels: Explore the Dept. of Medicine Culture and Inclusion Wellness page and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine Wellness page for available support pathways and departmental resources. 

• Provincial & National Networks: Connect with the OMA Physician Health Program, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) caregiver supports, or see guidelines provided by the Mental Health Commission of Canada on supporting healthcare workers. 

• Crisis Lines: Call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline) or reach out to local resources such as the Crisis Intervention Centre at 1-888-757-7766. 

This Suicide Prevention Month, we encourage everyone to take a moment to learn about 9-8-8 and share it widely within your professional and personal networks. You never know who might need it. By recognizing and remembering 9-8-8, actively dismantling stigma, and looking out for one another with compassion and courage, we help build stronger, safer, and more responsive communities. 

Umberin Najeeb, Vice Chair, Culture and Inclusion, Department of Medicine 

Julie Maggi, Director of Faculty Wellness, Temerty Faculty of Medicine