Thursday 7 June 2018

For doctors with mental illness, ‘help me’ can be the hardest words

For doctors with mental illness, ‘help me’ can be the hardest words | Clare Gerada There is a greater openness about mental health generally, but for medical professionals the taboo remains

The charity Mind has found that almost half of all patients consulting their general practitioner do so for problems with their mental health, such as anxiety and depression. This will not be a surprise to most GPs. These illnesses are common; but there is now also a greater willingness to talk about them, and to seek medical help. That is to be welcomed.

But the taboo persists, in some areas more stubbornly than others. One of those, paradoxically, is the other side of the consulting room. Doctors also suffer from mental illness and, in fact, have high rates compared with the patients they see. One survey found 85% had experienced some kind of mental health problem. Continue reading... The Guardian

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