Healthcare professionals carry a unique weight: the responsibility for the lives and wellbeing of others. But who takes care of the caregivers? For over 15 years, NHS Practitioner Health has been doing just that – providing vital mental health and addiction support to healthcare professionals. Despite serving more than 30,000 individuals, many in the medical field are unaware of this invaluable resource. This article explores what NHS Practitioner Health offers, why it is necessary, and how it has become a lifeline for countless professionals.
The tragic catalyst behind NHS Practitioner Health
The seeds of NHS Practitioner Health were sown in a heartbreaking tragedy. Dr Daksha Emson, a brilliant and dedicated psychiatrist, struggled with bipolar disorder. Despite her skill and commitment, the stigma surrounding mental illness in the medical profession made her feel she had to hide her condition. She feared judgment from her peers, intervention by the General Medical Council (GMC), and potential damage to her career.
Dr Emson’s attempts to seek help were limited to hurried, informal consultations in hospital corridors. The secrecy she maintained prevented her from accessing comprehensive care. After becoming a mother, she experienced a severe postnatal relapse, one that tragically ended in her taking her own life and the life of her three-month-old daughter.
"NHS Practitioner Health is more than just a mental health service; it is a lifeline [...] designed to meet the complex needs of healthcare professionals"
The inquiry into her death underscored a critical need: healthcare professionals require a confidential mental health service tailored to their unique challenges – a service that became NHS Practitioner Health.
Why healthcare professionals face unique barriers
We often see doctors and healthcare workers in our practice work who describe the pressures of needing to be perfect. Yet, beneath the surface, many struggle with burnout, anxiety, depression, and addiction to cope with those pressures. The hidden curriculum of medical training may lead to a belief that doctors should not become unwell, creating an environment where vulnerability is often hidden. This cultural expectation perpetuates the idea that seeking help is a sign of weakness.
- Stigma: There is a persistent fear that admitting to mental health struggles could damage professional reputations or lead to disciplinary actions.
- Guilt: Healthcare professionals often feel an overwhelming sense of guilt when prioritising their own wellbeing over their work.
- Workplace culture: The demanding nature of healthcare can discourage and prevent individuals from taking time off or addressing their own needs, even when they are struggling.
Healthcare professionals frequently push themselves to their limits, working through illness or emotional distress out of fear of letting their colleagues or patients down. When they do seek help, it’s often after reaching a breaking point.
The statistics are stark. According to the Office for National Statistics, one doctor dies by suicide every three weeks, and one nurse every 7–10 days. These numbers reflect the immense pressures faced by healthcare professionals and the critical importance of accessible, stigma-free support.
NHS Practitioner Health: A lifeline
NHS Practitioner Health is more than just a mental health service; it is a lifeline. Our service provides confidential, compassionate care tailored to the unique challenges of working in healthcare, particularly for those in regulated health professions.
What makes NHS Practitioner Health unique?
- Confidentiality: NHS Practitioner Health operates on a self-referral basis, allowing professionals to seek help without fear of disclosure to their employers or regulatory bodies. We are not linked to the NHS Spine and will only communicate with third parties, such as your GP, with your knowledge and consent.
- Tailored care: The team understands the specific pressures of healthcare work, including emotional burden, perfectionism, and burnout.
- Judgment-free environment: Many patients begin their consultations with an apology, feeling they are wasting our time. Nearly all feel that there is someone else more deserving of care than them. NHS Practitioner Health clinicians ensure every individual feels valued and understood. We understand that taking the first step to self-refer is the biggest and hardest. Everyone is met with care, compassion and understanding.
Who does NHS Practitioner Health treat?
While most patients are doctors and dentists, NHS Practitioner Health provides support to anyone working in the NHS or an NHS-commissioned service in England and regulated health and social care professionals in Scotland, who face a barrier to accessing care due to their role.
What services does NHS Practitioner Health offer?
NHS Practitioner Health is designed to meet the complex needs of healthcare professionals through a comprehensive range of services:
- Individual case management provided by our team of psychiatrists, mental health nurses, GPs with a special interest in mental health, and specialist advisors.
- Therapy: The service offers cognitive-behavioural therapy, brief intervention psychotherapy, and other evidence-based approaches tailored to individual needs.
- Addiction treatment: We provide care for those struggling with substance use or other addictions, including access to inpatient rehabilitation when necessary.
- Support groups: These include groups for suspended doctors, addiction recovery, those experiencing burnout, neurodiversity psychoeducation, and more.
- Fit notes: For those needing time off to recover, NHS Practitioner Health provides appropriate documentation to support their employment needs.
- Regulatory support: Through Memorandums of Understanding, NHS Practitioner Health works with all the major healthcare regulators to support professionals while ensuring patient safety.
- The majority of services are provided remotely, allowing for greater flexibility and accessibility with face-to-face appointments available when needed.
Transforming lives: The impact of NHS Practitioner Health
The true measure of NHS Practitioner Health’s success lies in the stories of those it has helped. Many healthcare professionals who were once on the brink of giving up their careers – or their lives – have found new hope through the service.
Doctors frequently report feeling happier, more self-confident, and emotionally stronger after accessing NHS Practitioner Health. They describe rebuilding their relationships with family and colleagues, regaining self-respect, and rediscovering joy in their work. One practitioner said, “Finding NHS PH led me to discard the idea of suicide.” Another credited the service with saving their career, saying, “I think I would have either hung up my stethoscope or worse without this support.”
Caring for your own team: Leading by example
At Practitioner Health, we believe that to care for others, we must first care for ourselves. We take the wellbeing of our own team seriously, recognising that happy, supported staff provide the best care.
Every team member at Practitioner Health is offered a Wellbeing Action Plan. This plan helps individuals identify triggers, stressors, and coping mechanisms, enabling them to take proactive steps to maintain their mental health. The Wellbeing Action Plan is a simple yet powerful resource that encourages healthcare workers to prioritise their own wellbeing amidst the demands of their roles. We like the Mind Wellbeing Plan, but there are many more available online.
We actively foster psychological safety and connection within our own organisation. Civility and kindness are embedded in our workplace culture, ensuring that our staff feel respected, valued, and empowered to thrive. We know that when organisations care about their staff and when colleagues care about each other, wellbeing flourishes.
By modelling the values we promote, we demonstrate that prioritising wellbeing is not only achievable but essential for delivering exceptional care.
Staying well: Putting your own oxygen mask on first
Maintaining wellbeing in a demanding profession like healthcare is a continuous challenge. While there is no universal solution, putting your own oxygen mask on first is essential.
- Identify what recharges you. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or simply enjoying a quiet moment, find what fills your emotional cup.
- Stay connected. Building and maintaining meaningful relationships with patients, colleagues, and loved ones is vital to provide meaning and purpose. Take a moment to be interested in and present with the people you work with and the patients you care for. A few moments at the start of a meeting or consultation to chat can make a huge difference to wellbeing.
- Embrace nature and movement. Time outdoors and regular physical activity can significantly boost mental health.
- Look after the basics. Eat nourishing food, stay hydrated, go to the toilet when you need to and take breaks – even if it’s just a minute to breathe deeply or look at the sky.
- Consider a wellbeing action plan to identify the things that help you stay well.
- Seek help. If you feel overwhelmed or others express concern, don’t wait. Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
A message of hope
For healthcare professionals, seeking help can feel like an admission of failure. However, accessing support through NHS Practitioner Health is an act of courage, strength and self-respect. It’s a step toward ensuring you can continue to provide the best care to your patients while also caring for yourself.
You are replaceable in your job, but you are NOT replaceable as a parent, partner, or friend. You deserve to be cared for.
How to access NHS Practitioner Health
If you or a colleague could benefit from NHS Practitioner Health’s services, visit www.nhspractitionerhealth.nhs.uk
Taking that first step could be the beginning of a transformative journey toward recovery and wellbeing. By providing the care healthcare professionals deserve, NHS Practitioner Health ensures you can continue to deliver the care your patients need. Together, we can create a healthier, more compassionate medical community – one professional at a time.
Further resources:
• Mind: Wellness Action Plan: www.mind.org.uk/media/lbahso3x/mind-wellness-action-plan-workplace.pdf
• Start Now: Wellbeing Toolkit: www.startnowcornwall.org.uk/index.php?page=toolkit#sec_5
Declaration of competing interests: None declared.
This article originally appeared in wellbeing II, published by Eye News. Bayer PLC provided hands-off commercial funding for the creation of this content but has not been involved in its development, review or finalisation.
