S.T.O.P    A Simple Mindfulness Practice for Physicians & Patients

By John A. Patterson MD, MSPH, FAAFP, ABIHM

Founding co-chair LMS Physician Wellness Program

Modern life and the COVID pandemic are taking its toll on our nation’s mental and physical health. Physicians and their patients both suffer from stress-related conditions and burnout. Multiple national surveys have documented an alarming increase in perceived stress, anxiety, depression and suicide among health professionals and their patients. Our health and our very lives depend on our ability to manage stress in healthy ways at home, at work, in traffic, in relationships- and simply inside our own skin. We need simple tools that we can use personally and also prescribe to bring some calm to the chaos- some peace to the frenzy- some kindness to the aggression and competition. S.T.O.P. is one such tool- taken from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction curriculum (1). This practice can take as little time as a few seconds or as much time as you like.

“S” is for “Stop” and take Stock

Aren’t there times when you just need a break- even for a minute- even for a breath? Make yourself a promise to recognize several times each day when you need some self-care and rejuvenation and simply stop. Step out of the unskillful, habitual reactivity of automatic pilot mode and step into the present moment.

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Market Outlook: Q2 2023

By John M. Fidler, Investment Officer, Stock Yards Bank & Trust

Markets have moved broadly higher so far this year, as the S&P 500 gained 9% through April 30 and international equity markets rose close as well. Bond prices moved higher as the 10-year Treasury yield declined from around 4% to just below 3.5%. Commodities were mostly higher (especially precious metals) though oil prices fell. Currencies were mixed but finished April generally little-changed for the year. These moves masked significant volatility in the first quarter. For instance, the S&P 500 traded upward to nearly 4,250 in early February before correcting below 3,900 in early March. The market then reversed course, closing above 4,100 on March 31.

This relatively contained trading range belies substantial economic volatility and liquidity concerns over the past two months. Central banks hoping to break the back of inflation and cool an overheating economy want risk-taking to be curtailed. But central banking is not an exact science, and during tightening cycles, things eventually start to break. We do not believe the failures of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB), Signature Bank, and First Republic are indicative of larger systemic risk, as the failures of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers were in the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). While we may see more bank failures, there is no liquidity crunch or deposit crisis at US regional banks in aggregate. However, these bank failures are symptoms of a broad tightening of financial market liquidity that has far-reaching and ongoing effects, and will likely hasten the economy’s push towards recession.

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