2017
DSN AGM and conference
2nd December 2017
A successful year of DSN's activities was reviewed, followed by the election of DSN's officers and committee.
Then a marketing workshop for DSN was delivered by Andy Ditchburn of Perro. Andy went through his market, message, medium process to help us to identify DSN's core idea and values before finalising our key messages. Andy's final report is attached on the blog here.
New Statesman and University of Buckingham round-table, London‘Nurturing Sustainability: How can the university experience be transformed to improve the British medical workforce?’
1st November 2017
Dr Louise Freeman represented DSN at a round-table discussion on improving the mental health of UK medical students.
A summary of the discussion has been published in the New Statesman magazine in January 2018. Click here
to read the full supplement including a mention for DSN!
BMJ Careers Fair
20/21st October 2017
DSN always runs a stand at the annual BMJ Careers Fair in London. We meet many doctors and medical students as well as representatives from other organisations and employers.This two-day event is one of DSN’s best opportunities to increase our profile both to individuals and to other organisations.
World Psychiatry Association Congress, Berlin: symposium on doctors’ mental health
9th October 2017
The initial suggestion for this collaboration came from Dr Astrid Freisen of Selbst betroffene Profis - a group for health professionals with bipolar which is associated with the German bipolar society Deutsche Gesellschaft für Bipolare Störungen. Our symposium comprised three talks with the overall title: Doctors with mental health disorders – an overview and introduction of UK and German peer support groups for doctors and other health workers.Read more on our blog
2017 London Marathon
April 2017
Dr. Kerrie Wallis raised over £2000 for DSN by running the London Marathon!
Find out more about raising money for DSN here.
European Association for Physician Health conference, Paris
24/25th April 2017
DSN vice chair, Dr Louise Freeman, attended the biannual EAPH
conference in Paris. Over 150 clinicians from all over Europe took part in this event which was notable for the discussion on personality traits of medics who become sick concluding with the everyone agreeing that such work was best used to focus support rather than select out!Read more about the event on the EAPH website here
UK Physician Health Summit
29th March 2017
I attended the UK Physician Health Summit today on behalf of DSN
Talks and workshops included mindfulness, regulator issues and how best to support international medical graduates.
Click here
to see abstracts and presentations from the event.
The first six weeks of the GP Health Service (GPH) have been busy but systems are working. Clinicians are very positive about the consultations and multi disciplinary team support available from the head office team. Further clinicians and therapists are being recruited. Everyone feels that GPH is a hugely important step on the road to ensuring that doctors get high quality bespoke services to get them well and keep them well and on track in their careers. The hope is that this service can be extended to all doctors and healthcare professionals in due course.
Dr Jenny Holmes
DSN committee
'Rounds' by Resuscitate Theatre
24th March 2017
Resuscitate Theatre recently presented its second run of a one act play called 'Rounds' based on the, often stressful, experiences of junior doctors. Resuscitate has kindly distributed DSN leaflets for us during a previous run of the play and we were delighted to take part in a post-show Q & A on this occasion. The play was disconcertingly realistic and did not shy away from the necessarily uncomfortable issues involved while incorporating many moments of humour!
Doctors' Support Network talk for the Oxford Medical Students' Society
DSN was invited by the Oxford University Medical Students' Society to a welfare symposium held on the
9th of February 2017 at the University of Oxford. Our attendance was well received with feedback indicating a need for a greater interface between medical students in need of support and the DSN. Attendees found it beneficial to learn how mental illness can be successfully managed in parallel with a successful clinical career.
Feedback from the society :
'The students who did attend seemed to find your talk very useful. We thought that the content of your talk was informative and it was delivered in an approachable way, that made it easy to receive. You helped us to challenge our own views of mental illness, and offered reassuring information regarding how they can be successfully managed in parallel with practicing medicine. We will most definitely be recommending you and the DSN to the committee following us next year.
'We students have the privilege of receiving education from inspirational clinicians and academics who are fantastic teachers. However, we are often most receptive of peer advice and mentoring, especially when it comes to issues of welfare.'
DSN aims to build its student resources over the coming year and develop a stronger connection with medical students in the UK. If or you would like the DSN to attend your medical school please get in touch.
Mahomed Saleh
Membership Secretary
&me anti stigma campaign launch
31st January 2017
Our &me anti stigma campaign with the RCVS was launched at the House of Commons with an afternoon tea. The campaign was introduced by Kevan Jones MP and supported by several organisations including the leading mental health trust - Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust – one of their medical directors – Dr Jonathan Richardson spoke as one of the first &me volunteers.
Read more about the campaign here
