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Free, Anonymous Screening Tool Addresses TN Health Professional Mental Health Concerns

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Increased mental health concerns among health professionals was deemed a public health crisis even before the pandemic; post-COVID conditions have intensified longstanding challenges and contributed to worsening problems, including compassion fatigue, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Burnout among these professionals has reached crisis levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Physicians at every level, including students, residents, and fellows, battle fear, stigma, and other barriers to seeking mental health care. We are pleased to let you know about a unique online service available to our health professional community that will help overcome some of those barriers to care.

The Tennessee Professional Screening Questionnaire (TN-PSQ) is a free, online resource provided by the Tennessee Medical Foundation that allows you to anonymously:

  • Take a brief questionnaire for stress, depression, and other mental health conditions
  • Receive a personal response from a program counselor
  • Exchange messages with the counselor, ask questions, receive recommendations and support for connecting with available mental health services.

Completing the online questionnaire and making use of this service is completely voluntary. Your identity will not be known to  SVMIC or to the TN-PSQ counselor unless you decide to share it.

SVMIC is committed to supporting our community to maintain optimal wellness. If you have any questions about this service, please contact Brenda Williams-Denbo at brendaw@e-tmf.org or 615-467-6411.

The contents of The Sentinel are intended for educational/informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Policyholders are urged to consult with their personal attorney for legal advice, as specific legal requirements may vary from state to state and/or change over time.

September 2024
Michael Baron, MD, MPH, DFASAM, FAPA

Medical Director, Tennessee Medical Foundation - Physician Health Program

Dr. Baron obtained his MD and MPH degrees from Tulane University. He completed his Anesthesiology residency at Washington University in St Louis and his Psychiatry residency at Vanderbilt University. He is board certified in Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Baron was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners (BME) in 2010 and
reappointed in 2015. He helped write Tennessee Department of Health rules pertaining to the treatment of pain, prescribing controlled substances, and Office-Based Opioid Treatment. He also served on two workgroups for the Federation of State Medical Boards: Physician Sexual Misconduct, and Physician Illness and Impairment. Dr. Baron resigned from the Tennessee BME in January 2017 to accept the Medical Director position of the Tennessee Medical Foundation- Physician’s Health Program.
In 2006, Dr. Baron published original research showing that high dose opioids increased chronic pain scores. In 2023 he helped write two book chapters: “Fitness for Duty” for the Encyclopedia for Neurological Disorders and “Supporting Patients Working in Safety Sensitive Occupations” for the 4th Edition of the ASAM Criteria. Dr. Baron was installed as president of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) in May 2024.

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