Doctors accessing mental-health services: an exploratory study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo develop a more in-depth understanding of how doctors do and do not access mental healthcare from the perspectives of doctors themselves and people they have contact with through the process.DesignQualitative methodology was used with semistructured interviews transcribed and analysed using Grounded Theory. Participants were 11 doctors with experience as patients of psychiatrists, four doctor and four non-doctor personal contacts (friends, family and colleagues) and eight treating psychiatrists.ResultsParticipants described experiencing unrealistic expectations and a harsh work environment with poor self care and denial and minimisation of signs of mental health difficulties. Doctor contacts described particular difficulty in responding effectively to doctor friends, family and colleagues in need of mental healthcare. In contrast, non-doctor personal contacts were more able to identify and speak about concerns but not necessarily to enable accessing adequate mental-health services.ConclusionsThree areas with potential to address in supporting doctors' accessing of appropriate healthcare have been identified: (1) processes to enable doctors to maintain high standards of functioning with less use of minimisation and denial; (2) improving the quality and effectiveness of informal doctor-to-doctor conversations about mental-health issues among themselves; (3) role of non-doctor support people in identifying doctors' mental-health needs and enabling their access to mental healthcare. Further research in all these areas has the potential to contribute to improving doctors' access to appropriate mental healthcare and may be of value for the general population.

UK military doctors; stigma, mental health and help-seeking: a comparative cohort study

“…Despite having ready access to such care, previous studies suggest that military personnel may not necessarily choose to access it when required. In the case of military doctors, this may well be compounded by a particular unwillingness to seek help when unwell; this outcome has been demonstrated in research among civilian doctors 26. Military doctors may therefore face both unique role-related and ubiquitous perceived or actual barriers to mental healthcare, which may impact the likelihood of seeking care through standard military routes.…”

The experience of disabled and non-disabled students on professional practice placements in the United Kingdom

“…Negative attitudes to disability in medicine may be perpetuated by 'a culture where doctors are seen as healthy people who treat sick patients' (Stanton & Randall, 2011, page 1), which can set unrealistic expectations and reinforce negative attitudes to impairment. Kay, Mitchell, Clavarino and Doust (2008) noted in their review of doctors' access to health care that a stigmatising attitude to illness can create barriers that prevent doctors seeking medical advice when they themselves are unwell.…”

The health of the Role 1 doctor

“…Poor mental health is associated with increased alcohol consumption, irritability with patients and colleagues and self-reported reduced standards of care 19. Although concern exists about doctors’ accessing mental health services,21 recent research shows an increase in doctors’ rates of self-referral 20. It is thought that, following mental illness, doctors are significantly less likely to return to full-time employment 22.…”