By: Dr. David Rice
Let’s talk about something that is taught to not talk about: Mental Health.
Ask for Help
Friends, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. NOTHING.
In dentistry, so often, there are tough times and tough days. If we internalize it and don’t talk about it, unfortunate and unnecessary things can happen.
Today, I want to share a special message with you in the dental industry.
Please take less than three minutes out of your life to listen to this.
Hey guys, listen its national suicide prevention week, and I just kind of want to talk from the heart a little bit.
I don’t think it’s any big shocker, to all of you watching that you know we have issues in dentistry and we have a lot of issues hanging out in the world right now. With COVID kind of adding to all this stress and the overwhelm and you know I for one, don’t know about you, but I can raise my hand.
I’ve had six people in my life since I was a dental student take their life, SIX! I’m not that old for goodness’ sake. And I’m guessing that you’re like me, you at least know somebody who’s had an issue.
So I guess what I just want to do this week is share with you what many people are – is you’re not alone.
You’re not the only one who’s felt down, you’re not the only one who’s questioned whether tomorrow’s worth waking up for. You’re not the only one who’s had low points and high points in your life and if you’re going through that experience right now, if you’re feeling that way right now, I know it’s hard to reach out and ask for help.
It might be embarrassing, it might just be overwhelming. Maybe you don’t even know if you really want help. But I’m asking you to do me a favor, and ask for help.
Ask for help from a parent, a sibling, or a best friend, or ask for help from someone that you don’t even really know. Maybe that’s easier, asking for help from someone you just don’t know. So you can unplug some of those emotions that may be holding you back from doing it.
So this is crazy but I, don’t care because this is important my cell is (hear in the video). If you don’t know me text me, your name’s not going to pop up. I’m not going to know who you are. But I promise you if you want to just text or you want to call and you need an ear to listen to you I’m happy to be that guy.
Friends we got a band together. This is a big problem beyond dentistry, but especially in dentistry let’s stick together.
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