{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Expanding Access to Mental Health Care: Dr. Daniel Saddawi\u2011Konefka on Reducing Barriers and Changing Culture","description":"In this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin welcomes Dr. Daniel Saddawi\u2011Konefka, associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of the Emotional PPE Project, for a thoughtful conversation on improving access to mental health care for health care professionals. Dr. Saddawi\u2011Konefka shares the origins of the Emotional PPE Project, created during the COVID\u201119 pandemic to connect clinicians with free, confidential, and accessible mental health support, and outlines its dual focus on immediate care and long\u2011term cultural change.  The discussion explores the complex, multi\u2011layered barriers that prevent physicians and physician learners from seeking care, including stigma, fears around confidentiality and professional consequences, and persistent logistical challenges such as time, cost, and access. Dr. Saddawi\u2011Konefka highlights how deeply ingrained cultural norms in medicine can discourage help\u2011seeking, but emphasizes the importance of system\u2011level reform, leadership, and education in shifting those patterns.  The conversation further examines the role of leadership and local culture in promoting psychological safety, normalizing vulnerability, and encouraging timely support for mental health needs. Dr. Saddawi\u2011Konefka also introduces the concepts of hedonic and eudaimonic well\u2011being, illustrating how both comfort and meaning are essential to sustaining fulfillment in medicine. Throughout the episode, listeners will gain practical insights into how reducing barriers, improving access to care, and fostering supportive environments can help health care professionals thrive while delivering high\u2011quality patient care. Podcast Chapters (00:00) \u2013 Intro and Guest Introduction (00:48) \u2013 Origins of the Emotional PPE Project (01:57) \u2013 Mission: Removing Barriers to Care (03:53) \u2013 Scale &amp;amp; Access to Mental Health Support (05:03) \u2013 Key Barriers: Culture, Stigma, and Logistics (07:27) \u2013 Generational Shifts &amp;amp; Ongoing Stigma (08:22) \u2013 Culture Change in Medicine (10:26) \u2013 Systems, Leadership &amp;amp; Multi-Level Solutions (12:55) \u2013 Education &amp;amp; Understanding Mental Health (17:38) \u2013 Leadership &amp;amp; Role Modeling Vulnerability (20:02) \u2013 Meaning vs. Comfort in Well-Being (23:26) \u2013 Final Reflections &amp;amp; Takeaways (23:59) \u2013 Closing &amp;amp; Resources &amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"ACGME Well-Being Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/acgme.libsyn.com\/website","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41467220\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/202417825"}