The profession has been a pioneer in the creation of support programs aimed at caring for doctors from the beginning of their career to the end of their working life, becoming a role model for other health professions. “Caring for the mental health of doctors must begin in their training, when they already face great demands. From the first years of their career until the end of their professional practice, we at the FPSOMC accompany professionals and ensure their mental health, guaranteeing them resources so that they can offer better care to their patients,” says Dr. M. Isabel Moya, first vice president of the FPSOMC and national coordinator of the Comprehensive Care Program for Sick Doctors (PAIME).
Precisely, the motto of the WHO World Mental Health Day “it is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace.” In this sense, the FPSOMC aligns itself with the WHO and underlines the need to integrate mental health into national and sectoral policies.
“The FPSOMC is not only concerned with the treatment and addressing of mental disorders, but also with the promotion of a healthy work environment, the prevention of emotional burnout and the creation of a supportive space for medical and healthcare professionals,” says Dr. M. Isabel Moya.
On World Mental Health Day, the FPSOMC reaffirms its commitment not only to doctors, but to society as a whole, highlighting the importance of caring for those who care for our health. The comprehensive care and preventive approach offered by PAIME, together with the support for doctors in training through programs such as the Telematic Service of Psychological Support for Medical Students (SAPEM), or the MIR Health Service, are proof of the Foundation’s commitment to the well-being of professionals and the quality of care that patients receive.
Mental health of the medical student
The SAPEM, in collaboration with the Mutual Médica Foundation and the State Council of Medical Students (CEEM), is an example of how the Foundation promotes mental well-being for the future of the profession. This service, which is managed confidentially, seeks to prevent emotional disorders, since 41% of students present symptoms of depression. Since it was launched in October 2022, hundreds of students have received psychological help. In the first six months of the year more than 134 have already received this service.
Furthermore, in terms of prevention, the FPSOMC organizes seminars focused on self-care and mental health with medical students from various universities throughout Spain. These meetings aim to raise awareness among future doctors about the importance of self-care and developing emotional management skills that allow them to improve their health.
Mental health of the resident internal physician (MIR)
For doctors in training during their residency, the FPSOMC offers the MIR Health Program, focused on promoting healthy habits and managing self-care, a key aspect for professionals who begin their career in an environment of high pressure and responsibility. This program is carried out jointly with all medical associations in Spain.
Mental health of the practicing doctor
The Comprehensive Care Program for the Sick Doctor (PAIME), designed specifically to care for doctors who suffer from mental disorders or addictions, is the jewel in the crown of the medical profession and is a collegiate program managed by medical associations under the umbrella of the FPSOMC.
PAIME, launched in 1998, is a unique program in Spain that has served more than 8,000 doctors throughout its history. The objective is clear: to rehabilitate the professional and ensure that they practice medicine in the best possible conditions. This approach has allowed more than 90% of the doctors treated to recover and return to the practice of their profession. This success not only ensures the well-being of the doctor, but also the quality of care that patients receive, fulfilling the double mission of PAIME: supporting the sick doctor and guaranteeing safety in clinical practice.
Other health professions
In recent years, the work of PAIME has served as a reference for other professional groups. The FPSOMC has signed agreements with the General Council of Nursing, Dentists, the General Council of Pharmacists and the General Council of Veterinarians to implement a Comprehensive Care Program for Sick Health Professionals, based on the experience and successes of PAIME.
Furthermore, since 2019, in collaboration with the Official College of Commercial Aviation Pilots (COPAC), there is the PAIPE (Comprehensive Assistance Program for Pilots in Spain), an initiative that replicates this model in the aviation sector, demonstrating that Attention to mental health is essential in professions where a high level of stress and responsibility is handled. In addition, the judges were also interested in this program.