Friday May 12, 2023

Ep. 1 - It’s Not Just You - Mental Health and Medics

We are kicking off with a deep dive into our stories of mental health in relation to training and working as a doctor, and how these became an inspiration for our podcast.

*Trigger Warning*

In this episode we discuss the physical symptoms of anxiety (minutes 9:43 and minute 19.03) and we mention an eating disorder (minute 2.54). This could be triggering if you’re actively experiencing similar experiences. Please avoid listening to this if you think you’re likely to be triggered, and always seek professional mental health help (see below for resources).

Topics we discuss:

Get to know a bit about your hosts, Dr Emily Fulleylove and Dr Natasha Holmes, and our hopes for The Fully Well Doc Pod
Recognising anxiety and depression in yourself and how it’s not always obvious
The common experience of mental health difficulties and the stigma and shame around it within the medical environment
What burnout is and how we view it in the context of our past medical experiences
Asking for and receiving the right help when you're suffering with mental health problems as a doctor
The importance of seeking support for mental health struggles and the acknowledgment that this comes with its own barriers
The benefits of coaching for all doctors

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Wellness Wonder: NHS Practitioner Health

Need help?

In the UK, Practitioner Health have teamed up with SHOUT to create a confidential 24/7 text service for PH patients. Text 85258.

Want to help?

You can help shape the service by taking part in patient and volunteer groups

Other resources:

Samaritans UK

Samaritans USA

Doctors in Distress

NHS Practitioner Health

See more episodes: thefullywelldocpod.podbean.com