Student Health Advocacy Resource Program (SHARP)  

WHAT IS SHARP?
    Medical school is stressful as is the work of a physician. A wide range of problems can undermine a medical student's effectiveness. These health concerns may include: alcoholism, drug dependence, affective disorders such as depression or mood swings, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, sexual boundary problems, and cognitive impairment. The Student Health Advocacy Resource Program (SHARP) exists to provide with compassion and confidentiality a support, referral and advocacy service for students with substance abuse or mental health problems so that they can continue their education and training. In addition, the program seeks to protect patients and others from the harm that such impairment may cause.

How can SHARP help?
    In an empathetic manner, SHARP provides medical students with confidential advice, guidance into treatment when appropriate, and support throughout treatment. SHARP helps students to continue their medical education without fear of prejudice. In addition, SHARP can serve as a resource to students in applying for residency and obtaining their medical license. Successful participation in this program will not adversely affect a student's education or career.  

Who is the Student Health Advocacy Resource Program?
    SHARP is comprised of medical students and faculty members. Student representatives are volunteers chosen from each medical school class to serve for the four years in which they are enrolled in medical school. Faculty members are selected who have demonstrated concern and experience in counseling students. All members receive training by the Physician's Health Programs (PHP), a confidential support and advocacy program for physicians and medical students.

HOW can students get help?
    Any medical student may obtain assistance by calling, e-mailing or contacting in person any member of the committee. The committee member and/or members will talk with the student about the nature of the student's illness or problem, provide information and support, and when appropriate, arrange treatment and advocacy by SHARP. In addition there is a general SHARP e-mail address which you may use.

Confidentiality
    Confidentiality is the crucial component of this program. SHARP depends upon student trust and confidence so that students will contact SHARP for help. Therefore, all information gathered by SHARP will be held in complete confidence. SHARP will protect the privacy and identity of students in need of help and of those who refer them. In a typical case, only the representative(s) contacted and a single faculty member will know the identity of the student involved. No individual associated with the Office of the Dean is a SHARP member, nor does any individuals from the Dean's office participate in SHARP.

Barriers to Treatment
    The major barriers to treatment and recovery are denial and lack of education. Since denial is a major component of the illness, many students lack the insight and ability to help themselves. In addition, the characteristics which allow students to compete successfully in achieving admission to medical school - intelligence, drive, determination, and a high tolerance for frustration - may actually help to conceal a problem. Unfortunately, too often the problems remains hidden only to manifest itself later during residency or practice, when it can devastate a physician's career.

    Thus treatment often depends on intervention and assistance by colleagues or family. Without education and guidance, however, persons close to the individual in trouble are unlikely to provide the assistance and may even make the situation worse by "covering up" for them. Initiation of treatment requires special skills. To assist, colleagues must recognize potential addictive and mental health problems and understand how to ensure that the student will receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment. To help, SHARP encourages and accepts referrals from concerned colleagues, faculty, physicians, and family. All referrals will remain confidential. Also, SHARP will take an active role in providing educational programs and materials on various mental health and substance abuse topics.