A growing number of GPs are having to seek mental health support for the first time due to ‘continuous pressure’ on the NHS.
NHS Practitioner Health warns that due to the current pressure on health services, a record number of GPs are turning to NHS services for help with stress, anxiety and sleep problems.
Lucy Warner, chief executive of NHS Practitioner Health, told Pulse that the service, which helps medical staff with a range of mental health conditions and addictions, registered 184 patients in the last week of last year. rice field.
This was the same number that registered for the entire first year of 2008.
GPs make up nearly 40% of registrations, more than half from secondary care physicians and the rest from other professions.
Warner said:
“Demand has been at a very high level over the last three months and we are currently responding to new requests for support over about a third of our available capacity, with immediate availability to those who need it most urgently. As you can see, we’re triaging all new referrals.
“Work pressure is undoubtedly a key factor in people reporting feeling stressed, struggling, overwhelmed and depressed. Anxiety, signs of depression and sleep disturbances are also common.
“This has been the busiest period I have known in my 15 years of running Practitioner Health and the significant increase in levels we expect to see during this time..’
Dr Elizabeth Croton of the Doctors’ Association UK GP Committee told Pulse it was “essential” to ensure GPs had access to mental health support tailored to their needs.
she said:
“Self-care is not selfish and is an essential part of coping with the current work environment. In my opinion, anti-GP media rhetoric has certainly had a negative impact on the mental health of GPs.” I sincerely hope that the people who participated in will one day be held accountable.
General practitioners struggling with mental health problems can get free and confidential support from NHS Practitioner Health.
A list of resources for mental health support and well-being is also available from the British Medical Association.
