GP mental health can be an issue throughout your career. Studies have shown that GPs are more likely than other healthcare professionals to suffer from depression and anxiety.
The pressures on general practitioners are well documented; workloads have reached unsustainable levels and many GPs feel stressed.
So what can be done to help? The answer is not simple, but it starts with making people aware of the issue.
Asking for help can be difficult and it may feel like there are few places that GPs can go to when they need support. However, there are many organisations that provide support for GPs experiencing difficulties.
The NHS GP Health Service is a confidential service that allows GPs, practice nurses, and trainees to self-refer.
The GP Health Service can help doctors with issues relating to mental health concerns, including stress or depression, or addiction problems.
The BMA 24/7 helpline is a dedicated doctor and medical student support service. It’s totally confidential, so you can talk through any worries without feeling embarrassed or judged.
NHS Practitioner Health Programme
The NHS Practitioner Health Programme is a free and confidential NHS service for doctors and dentists that offers support to doctors whose health concerns might affect their ability to work.
A healthcare professional who has been affected by a patient safety incident can be referred to as a second victim. This web-based resource provides guidance and tools to support individuals (and their managers) who have been affected by such incidents.
Drug and alcohol support helpline for doctors; offers 24-hour confidential telephone help.
Every 10 seconds, Samaritans respond to a call for help.
They’re there to help, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, and who needs someone to listen without judgment or pressure.
Samaritans are not only for the moment of crisis, they’re taking action to prevent the crisis
The help me, I’m a doctor site brings together multiple independent charities that support doctors in genuine financial need. These charities can provide support to help doctors get their lives and careers back on track.
Please call one of The GP Team’s dedicated consultants today on +44 (0) 1908 978 030 to discuss your requirements.