The original inspiration for the interviews was this article written by Prof. Steve Robson in MJA Insight about his experience of attempting suicide as a junior doctor many years ago as well as the further discussions about his disclosure including comment by Dr. Kate Tree - one of his colleagues at the time.

Prof. Steve Robson was first interviewed by Anna Foster from BBC Radio Five Live.  Steve described having felt very much affected by the death of a particular patient during his first year at work as a doctor.  He talked about how he felt as if he was dangerous as a doctor and as if there wasn't anything that he could do to make it any better.  Steve then related how, having assembled preparations for killing himself, he was interrupted by loud knocking at his door from one of his colleagues.  The interruption prompted him to get help - although he was told, by the doctor that he saw, not to tell anyone about the episode otherwise his career would be ruined.  Steve now has a successful career in women's health and  is the immediate past president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.  He described having been moved by hearing stories of other doctors' experiences and feeling obliged to talk about his experience 'I have to say something - it's okay to seek help.'

Dr. Kate Tree was also interviewed about her experience being a fellow trainee doctor with Steve at the time.  She told how she and her fellow trainees had observed him becoming unwell before their 'desperately staged intervention' - knocking on his door having seen his preparations to kill himself.  Steve described how he now felt as if we all needed to 'to try to reset the conversation' about doctors' mental health 

Emergency medicine consultant, Dr Laura McGregor, then talked about her experience of suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related to her work with an air ambulance service.  She described attending two train related fatalities on consecutive days in the same place and remembering thinking 'don't show that you're upset'.  Laura then told how she had looked after someone with a myocardial infarction with the family looking on and feeling a 'huge sense of hopelessness' and as if the person had been 'failed by me'.  She went on to say that she felt as if 'her head broke' and 'her brain was exiting the building'.  She said that she couldn't concentrate and felt very 'on edge' - with a heightened sense that something wasn't right.  Laura went on to explain how a friend who was a psychiatrist had thankfully guided her in the direction of MedNet (formerly a dedicated psychotherapy service for doctors).  Laura described how she was told 'You shouldn't be working' but that she would get better - which she did and is now a substantive consultant in emergency medicine in Scotland after a supported phased return to work.  Laura pointed out that the extra susceptibility of female doctors to mental ill health is well known - so why is there not more input! and that she had been 'at the top of my game' and still became unwell - it can happen to any of us.

Dr. Louise Freeman, co-chair of DSN was then interviewed about the pressure on medics not to disclose mental ill health.  Louise confirmed that stigma related barriers are much the same for medics around the world and the importance of seeking early support to achieve the best outcomes for doctors and their patients.

Link to DSN's Support for Doctors page here

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