Abstract
The mind of the medic: Protecting and promoting doctors’ wellbeing
Doctors’ wellbeing has entered the spotlight in 2016 and rightly so. More than ever we are aware of the tightrope of personal and institutional sustainability in medicine and particularly in general practice.
The Practitioner Health Programme in London has seen a continuing reduction in the age of doctors presenting to their service, with 54% now being under the age of 35 (Gerada, 2016), compared with just a quarter in 2008 and 2009 (Gerada, Jones, & Wessely, 2014). These latest figures do not reflect the demographic of doctors in the UK, with just 28% of doctors on the General Medical Council register being under 35 (Gerada, Jones & Wessely, 2014).
The threats to young doctors’ wellbeing are multifactorial and complex, including high work load, long hours, constant workplace rotation, separation from partners and families, exposure to traumatic events and the sense of an external locus of control on our lives.
In addition, as conscientious and caring people, doctors may struggle to match the perceived image of what they feel they should be as parents, partners, children, academics, doctors and colleagues. Disparity between what we feel we should be and what we feel we are, leads to a demoralised and depressed version of ourselves, who may start to resent certain aspects of our lives and the expectations these place on us.
These feelings need to be attended to; feelings such as this are a sign something has to change. At the moment we have limited control over our workplace, rotations and workload. So what’s the answer? Change what is within our control and campaign for what currently is not.
What is within our control to change? We can change our thoughts, the demands we place on ourselves and each other, the extent of our support to one another and our attitudes towards colleagues who have mental health problems. We can be cognisant of the fact that the colleagues we are working with, day in and day out, are sometimes just battling to get through the day. We can speak to each other with care and compassion when making and accepting referrals.
What can we campaign for? Junior doctors have become expert campaigners over the last year; let’s learn from this and build on it in years to come, campaigning for compassion in the workplace, safeguarding of doctors’ wellbeing and mental health, appropriate rather than excessive regulation and an end to specialty bashing and bullying.
Over the next year you will see your AiT Committee promoting doctors’ wellbeing and driving events that will focus on this. We look to all AiTs to support us in this, by caring for each other, challenging prejudice and utilising us as your representatives.
The mind of the medic is a precious one and I urge you to do everything you can to look after yourself and those around you. Your AiT Committee will support you and do the same with you.