Search

Objective: Doctors' mental health has received increased focus recently and has been met with a variety of systemic responses. A Professional Support Unit (PSU) in a public hospital was established to address service gaps. This paper aims to describe the care of doctors referred to this service. Methods: Participants in the first four cases were referred to the PSU and assessed by the first author. Results: The cases revealed: (i) variety of referral sources, symptom presentations and backgrounds of doctors referred to a dedicated doctors' health service; and (ii) the person-centred, multi-modal treatments and adjunctive services required. Conclusion: Doctors' mental health is an urgent priority, with direct impacts on patient safety and care. The mix of patients presented here suggest difficulties beyond burnout and highlight the workings of a new service model designed to complement existing services in the Australian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Doctors' mental health has received renewed attention given the epidemic of burnout, high suicide rates and the recent pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Internationally, various service designs and primary prevention initiatives have been trialled to address these needs. Systemic barriers such as stigma as well as individual characteristics of doctors have historically prevented access to mental health services. This paper outlines the Australian service context from which a new publicly funded doctors' mental health programme emerged. Methods: A narrative review of current services and a description of the challenges is outlined. Results: A picture of urgency and unmet needs emerged with particular challenges, such as the need for privacy. Conclusions: Doctors' mental health is an urgent priority with direct impacts on patient safety and care. The complex context and the unmet need suggest the focus must go far beyond burnout and has prompted the establishment of a new service model designed to complement existing services in the Australian context, to be described in a sister paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]