The Training Office: A conversation about mental health by trainees, for trainees‪.‬ Urooj Yazdani MD, M.Ed.

Climate change is impacting our world in ways that can no longer be ignored. From wildfires in the west coast to flooding in the midwest, the effects of natural disasters cause communities to come part, both literally and theoretically. The systematic impact of such disasters leave fertile ground for psychological distress that is felt for generations to come. But did you know that climate change can impact mental health in a more direct, measurable way? Dr.Robin Cooper, associate clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, and a member of the steering committee of the Climate Psychiatry Alliance, discusses the intimate yet often overlooked connection between psychiatric illnesses and climate change.

Creativity is a concept that is often considered too broad, too vague and too nuanced to incorporate into the structured world of residency. But can exploring the world of the abstract help us to become more astute, caring and well-rounded physicians?  Dr.Rossi, PGY4 at Cooper University Hospital, discusses his experience with exploring various avenues of creative expression, including advocacy and social media outreach. We discuss what it means to build influence during these uncertain times and how one can leverage creativity to create more agency in a designated speciality. 

In this episode we discuss the following: 

- What does creativity mean and how can it manifest within the confines of residency? 

- What types of outlets should trainees get involved with to further develop their creative interests? 

- What are the setbacks of such exposure during training and how can trainees avoid such pitfalls? 

- What kinds of advocacy should residents and fellow engage in to have more agency in how they practice? 

- How can we work to ensure that such outlets are encouraged during training? 

Wellness initiatives within programs are nothing new. From structured lectures, wellness days, yearly retreats and more, programs have incorporated multiple strategies to ensure that residents and fellows are informed of how to care for themselves during training. But why do these initiatives fail to create a tangible response? And why do so many trainees still out of balance when it comes to training? Dr.Anum Baig, a PGY2 in psychiatry at Charles R.Drew University of Medicine and Science, discusses her experience of being a wellness liaison within her program and what she believes will work to enhance the wellness initiatives within training programs.
In this episode, we discuss the following: 

What is the definition of work-life balance and how does it differ from wellness? 
What are some common initiatives that programs make to ensure that wellness is integrated within medical training? 
What are some basic steps that trainees can take to ensure that they prioritize work-life-balance? 
What are the common trends that seem among new vs. well-established programs in terms of wellness initiatives? 
What are is a wellness liaison and how does their role differ from that of administrators? 
What is the structure of such a role and how does it differ from typical wellness initiatives? 

The "B" word comes with multiple implications. From the shame associated with the lack of performance to implications about what it could mean as future obstacles present themselves, many clinicians do everything they can to avoid brining up their suffering to supervisors. How can we reframe the concept of burnout to ensure that people respond rather than react? The co-hosts of the Shrinking Burnout podcast, Dr. Andrew Wu and Dr. Varsha Radhakrishnan discuss how they breach the topic with their guests and what they have discovered is helpful in addressing the needs of trainees during times of unrelenting stress.  

In this episode we discuss the following: 


Why is burnout an essential topic when addressing physician wellness? 
What are the implications of burnout and how does it negatively impact physician perception? 
What do research trends show about how burnout impacts physician performance? 
What are the barriers to reframing this term to decrease negative associations? 
How does The Shrinking Burnout podcast address these critical physician needs?

The concept of peer mentorship is often discussed in vague, non-specific ways within the context of residency. Why is mentorship such an essential piece of the training experience and what can trainees gleam from ensuring that they gleam all they can from their mentors? Dr.Alaa ElNajjar, a child/adolescent psychiatry fellow at Albert Einstein School of Medicine, discusses Buddies Space: an innovative project aimed at connecting trainees to advisors and mentors who can give them the appropriate guidance and support based on their individual academic and personal interests. 

In this episode we discuss the following: 


How can trainees engage with their peers in a meaningful way? 
What are the benefits of connecting with advisors who will guide you towards the career that you want? 
How can the concept of peer mentorship evolve from a broad concept to one that is specific to PGY needs? 
What is Buddies Space and how does it contribute to the dire need for mentor engagement within the psychiatric community? 

The American Psychiatric Association is the largest organization of psychiatric professionals in the world. While residents and fellows are often members of the APA, most are not aware of what kinds of opportunities for career advancement such organizations can provide. Dr.Rebecca Brendel, a psychiatrist, lawyer and advocate for organizational psychiatry, shares personal stories of how she became involved with the APA and how trainees can further invest in their futures by becoming key decision-makers in the local and national psychiatric organizations. 

In this episode, we discuss the following: 


What is the APA and what kinds of opportunities can it offer trainees? 
What are some introductory steps all residents and fellows can take to become involved in their local organizations? 
How can trainees contribute to the decision-making process within psychiatric organizations? 
How can psychiatric organizations further serve the needs of trainees? 
What are the benefits of early involvement and how can such involvement transform into a stepping stone for life beyond training?