Doctors' Support Network
peer support for doctors and medical students with mental health concerns
Reading Resources
Reading Resources
Reading around the topic of doctors and mental health
Much has been published about physician health particularly in the last few years. The following is a small selection of publications in this field.
Please bear in mind that you may find the topics contained in the suggested books and articles distressing or triggering, particularly if you are currently unwell.
It is your responsibility to decide when / if this reading might be helpful in your own situation.
Blogs by medics
Medics writing online about their own mental health.
2018 article BMJ Opinion: Medics and mental health—the disclosure delusion
5th June 2018
Dr Matthew Christie, DSN's secretary, published a recent article on 'Medics and mental health—the disclosure delusion' in the British Medical Journal. Click here
to read Matt's writing.
2018 bookAlso Human: The Inner Lives of Doctors by Caroline Elton
Dr Caroline Elton is a chartered psychologist specialising in career planning for doctors and dentists.
Click here
to read an interview with Caroline and an excerpt from her new book Also Human : The Inner Lives of Doctors.
DSN will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase Also Human: The Inner Lives of Doctors using the link above.
2017 bookWhy physicians die by suicide by Dr Michael Myers
Dr Michael Myers is a U.S. psychiatrist who specialises in physician health. Read an excerpt from his new book on our blog here
DSN will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase Why physicians die by suicide using the link above.
2015 bookThe other side of silence
by Linda Gask
Academic psychiatrist Dr Linda Gask's fascinating account of her experiences as psychiatrist and patient.
Follow Linda on Twitter : @suzypuss
This book is available to borrow from the BMA library.
DSN will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase The other side of silence
using the link above.
2014 articleWhy doctors hide their own illnesses
by Louise Carpenter, The Guardian
A well written general press article about the ongoing problems of doctors' mental health issues.
Click HERE for article
2014 reportGMC internal review of doctors who commit suicide while under GMC fitness to practice investigation
Review and analysis of doctors' suicides while undergoing the GMC fitness to practice process.
Click HERE for report
2013 articleWhen doctors need treatment: an anthropological approach to why doctors make bad patients
by Alex Wessely and Clare Gerada, BMJ Careers
Article discussing the anthropological reasons why doctors make bad patients.
Click HERE for article
2012 articleMedicine and mental illness: how can the obstacles sick doctors face be overcome?
BJ Psych Bulletin
An anonymous reflection from a doctor with mental health problems on their experience of the system and suggestions on how to overcome obstacles in the way of affected doctors receiving appropriate care.
Click HERE for article
2011 articleDoctors and mental health
by Sue Learner, BMJ Careers
Article about the experiences of doctors with mental health problems including comment from Dr Fiona Donnelly - chair of DSN at the time.
Click HERE for article
2009 reportNHS health and well-being review
Dr Steve Boorman led an independent review of the health and well-being of NHS staff. Mental health is one of the areas of focus of his report.
Click HERE for link to report
2007 bookWhen doctors become patients
by Dr Robert Klitzman
Robert Klitzman is a psychiatrist who became interested in doctors' health and their attitudes towards it after his own depression following a family bereavement.
This book is available to borrow from the BMA library.
DSN will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase When Doctors become Patients
using the link above.
2005 bookDoctors as Patients
edited by Dr Petre Jones
Doctors as Patients
is a collection of writing by DSN members, edited by Dr Petre Jones. It includes reflections of the experience of doctors with mental health problems as well as practical advice for how to cope if afflicted oneself. Click here
to read an excerpt from the book.
Review:
This is a courageous and overdue book written by doctors with mental illness. All look back over their illnesses and describe their experiences with remarkable honesty and clarity. Following diagnosis and treatment, most of them continue to practice, some with knowledge of the cyclical nature of the illness with which they have to contend.
Ruth Fowke, Christian Medical Fellowship
http://www.cmf.org.uk/publications/content/?context=article&id=1778
This book is available to borrow from the BMA library.
DSN will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase Doctors as Patients using the link above.
2005 bookLife after Darkness: A Doctor's Journey through Severe Depression by Dr Cathy Wield
Dr Cathy Wield has successfully returned to work in emergency medicine in the UK after two bouts of major depression which included hospital admissions and brain surgery. She has written extensively about her experience of being a doctor with depression and notes that there is still room for improvement in the way that we respond to mental ill health!
This book is available to borrow from the BMA library.
DSN will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase Life after Darkness using the link above.
2003 reportReport of an independent inquiry into the care and treatment of Daksha Emson MBBS, MRCPsych, MSc and her daughter Freya
Daksha Emson was a senior psychiatric registrar when she sadly killed herself and her infant daughter while unwell with post natal depression. The inquiry into their deaths highlighted several areas in which their care could have been improved, some related to Daksha's role as a doctor.
Click HERE for report
In memory of Daksha & Freya Emson, Belinda Brewer and Petre Jones
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All opinions expressed on this website are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect an official position of DSN. DSN cannot accept responsibility for any actions taken as a result of content of the website. Links to other organisations are provided for information only and are not a recommendation. In particular, you may want to check about confidentiality when contacting other organisations.
