NJ Residents Participate in National Alliance for Mental Illness’ United Day of Hope for Spring Walk
As part of PRMS’ ongoing efforts to support the behavioral healthcare community and promote the organizations that work towards this mission, we are pleased to feature Dr. Emma T. Azurin, Resident Workgroup Trustee to the Board of the New Jersey Psychiatric Association and PGY-3 at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Residency Training Program, as a guest blogger this month. Dr. Azurin reflects on her NAMIWalk participation on May 18, 2024, in Robbinsville, NJ.
The Journey of Psychiatry Resident
When a community health center serving the homeless population of Camden, NJ, invited me to join their team as a medical scribe after college, I was thrilled. I was soaking in the new language of medical jargon when suddenly, just a few days into the job, I held a weeping patient’s hand as the doctor debrided maggots from his ulcerated feet. The patient looked in my eyes with fear and shouted, “They're eating me alive!” As I quickly referenced a movie where maggots were used on a soldier’s wound to help remove debris, he relaxed and began to share his story. His diabetic feet were the tip of the iceberg. Our conversations over time revealed his struggle with a vicious cycle of isolation, depression, and opioid addiction impeding his health. I encouraged him to reach goals such as regular therapy and, eventually, recovery. This experience began my curiosity in psychiatry. Seven years later, I am currently in my third year of psychiatry residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Caring for individuals with mental illness remains, to me, the most gratifying profession.
During my first year of residency, I learned about the New Jersey Psychiatric Association (NJPA) and was drawn to its mission of advocacy and the camaraderie it fosters amongst the community of psychiatrists in our state. I am currently serving as the Resident Trustee alongside my team of ten additional resident physicians from psychiatry training programs across New Jersey. Each year, we plan an annual service event to come together as a group and give back to our community – this past spring, for our 5th Annual Psychiatrists in Service Event we chose to fundraise for and partake in the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) United Day of Hope for Spring Walk at West Lake Park in Robbinsville, NJ. On Saturday, May 18, NJPA leaders, including practicing psychiatrists, resident psychiatrists, and their families and friends, walked together to raise mental health awareness and support NAMI’s mission to let all who are affected by mental illness know that they are not alone.
Advocating for Mental Health: Leaning into Community Support
Results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health have shown 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. Moreover, 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24, highlighting the importance of early intervention and improved accessibility of resources that support individuals affected by mental illness. NAMI, a non-profit organization with over 700 NAMI State Organizations, works in such communities to provide support and education to those in need at every step of their journey – from understanding the earliest signs of mental illness to navigating the complicated world of our healthcare system during the brink of mental health crises. NAMI is a critical resource for families and individuals affected by mental illness to empower themselves and build meaningful, fulfilling lives.
A Day at the NAMI Walk
When our team arrived at the park to share an early breakfast meal, we were amongst a swarm of people of all ages – some dressed in matching shirts supporting loved ones, some with small children, some with pets – all walking in solidarity. As a physician in training, the arduous path of residency can sometimes leave us trainees feeling isolated and detached from the communities we serve; at the NAMI walk, we were amongst them. As we walked, resident and attending physicians discussed our different paths to psychiatry, our current goals within the field, and how mental health care has evolved over time. We visited the many exhibitor booths featured at the walk including those offering wellbeing resources, guided yoga exercises, and mental health education materials. The event was a huge success for our resident workgroup, and we were able to reach more than 75% of our fundraising goal for NAMI’s mission.
Inevitably, life as a psychiatrist will pose tremendous emotional stress and require resilience as we help individuals with mental illness navigate crises, not only of medical origins but also of identity and reality. This service event was a chance for us to take time to lean closer into our community of colleagues and advocate for the community we aim to serve and protect.
(L-R) Drs. Minhi Kang and Emma Azurin at the NAMIWalk
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