About DSN
Doctors' Mental Health at Tipping Point - DSN in a BBC TV film
DSN and external engagement
The Doctors' Support Network is pleased to be involved in physician health related consultations with other organisations. We have recently contributed to the GMC 'Fitness to Practice' consultation and the BMA 'Listening and Learning' event as well as providing speakers for a variety of recent physician health events - find out more here
Please contact the Chair via the form below about physician health related consultations or speaker requests.
The DSN 2023-24 committee
Co-chairs
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Dr. Angelika Luehrs, MBBS, MD, MRCPsychList Item 1
I joined the DSN Committee in 2005. Since then I have been involved with the organisation in a variety of ways for example I have represented DSN in external bodies and working groups such as the Practitioner Health Programme. I was elected Vice Chair in 2007, which was a position I held until being elected Chair in 2012. DSN has continued to thrive, thanks to a new and very enthusiastic committee.
DSN continues to develop its core functions of providing support and information and campaigning for doctors with mental health problems. This included one of the most exciting projects in the form of the Anti-stigma campaign &me. Please see further details on the website. DSN presented at the World Psychiatric Association in Berlin in October 2017 with a German counterpart organisation and at the European Association of Physician Health conference in Oslo in 2019.
We are always keen to learn from members so please do get in touch if you have any ideas/suggestions or if you would be interested in joining DSN.
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Dr. Louise Freeman, MB BS, FRCEM, FRCS (A&E) Ed (1996), DAList Item 2
I have been a member of the DSN since 2011, and on the committee since 2012. I also edit the DSN newsletter. I co-ordinate the North East England DSN group. I initiated the 2014 DSN stigma survey and have attended many meetings and conferences representing DSN.
Email DSN chair
Officers
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Dr. Malcolm Kinnear (vice chair)List Item 1
'Born & educated in Aberdeen, I started training in psychiatry in 1991 but was off work from 1997 with chronic depression, eventually managing to return as a Specialty Doctor in Fife in 2009, then re-entering higher specialist training in Tayside in 2014, acquiring my CCT in General Adult Psychiatry in 2017. I have recently been appointed as a consultant psychiatrist.
I joined DSN in 1999 & have been Scottish coordinator since 2003, in which capacity I am now a member of an active Royal College of Psychiatrists /Scottish Executive working group to set up a Managed Clinical Network for sick doctors.
I am married, with two dogs & one cat, & we live in an old stone house in a picturesque village in Fife, where I enjoy reading, historical swordsmanship, rock music & war-games.'
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Ross Freeman (treasurer)List Item 2
Ross is a longstanding Associate member of DSN (and Louise's husband). He works as a consultant engineer in the metal industry. Ross is also a doctor - but not the medical sort!
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Dr. Susan Atcheson (membership secretary)List Item 3
'Hi I am Susan Atcheson. I am originally from Scotland and moved to Norfolk 13 years ago. I graduated from Aberdeen University in 1997 and trained as a GP. I am currently a Clinical Lead GP in West Norfolk with special interests in Palliative care, Education and Leadership and Development. I am particularly interested in the emerging models of Compassionate Leadership in Healthcare.
I live with my partner of twenty years Alex and we have two children aged 7 and 4 and our old doggie Tara. We love walking, cycling (at least they all do!) and enjoying the gorgeous North Norfolk Coast.'
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Dr. Matthew Christie (general secretary)List Item 4
'Hi I'm Matt Christie. I graduated from Oxford University in 2015 and am currently a foundation doctor in Hampshire. Outside of medicine, I'm a freelance writer, studying for my diploma in French and am currently training for the Great South Run to raise money for DSN.
I was born and raised on the South Coast and love nothing more than going for long walks on the South Downs with my wonderful family and my dogs.'
Committee members
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Dr. Kaman HansfordList Item 1
'Hi, I'm Kaman. I graduated from Southampton University in 2005 and currently working as a part time GP. I am married and mummy to two children.
I have had a number of exacerbations of depression and am therefore passionate about helping others as someone who truly understands what chronic mental illness is about. '
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Dr. Jenny HolmesList Item 2
'I have a portfolio career,working part time in learning disability psychiatry and part time in forensic medicine. I believe strongly in everyone's potential to recover fully from mental illness and challenging stigma.
Outside work I am a mum of five, enjoy a busy family life and own far too many pets. I also completed a long held ambition and slowly ran my first marathon in 2015.'
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Dr. Clive MorganList Item 3
Clive is a specialty doctor psychiatrist in South Wales. He occasionally dabbles with the idea of becoming a GP but always ends up back in psychiatry. He enjoys swimming and in a limited sort of way keeping fit! He has been involved with DSN for a few years.
DSN organisational structure
DSN is run by an annually elected committee of volunteer members including a chair, up to two vice chairs, a treasurer and two secretaries to cover membership and general secretarial duties. Full, student and associate members of DSN are eligible to self nominate to be elected onto the committee with full and associate members eligible for the officer roles.
Read the DSN trustee guidelines here .
Read a blog article to learn more about how the DSN committee works here .
DSN is a registered charity :
(previously no. 1103741).
The organisation is required to provide annual returns including a set of accounts.
DSN trustees' annual reports to 30.06.23 :
DSN finances
DSN accounts to 30.06.23 :
DSN policies
Links to other organisations
Doctors in Distress is a
charity committed to eradicating stigma, change behaviours & cultures and promote the value of good leadership to reduce suicide rates of medical doctors.
The Louise Tebboth Foundation was established in memory of Louise Marson (nee Tebboth), a Bermondsey GP who took her life in January 2015. The Foundation aims to provide financial assistance to projects and services which support the mental well-being of doctors in England and Wales and initiatives assisting the bereaved families of doctors who have died by suicide.
Click on the logo on the right to go to the charity's website.
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 'Mind Matters Initiative'
The Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of those in the veterinary team, including students, veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons and practice managers. MMI was launched in 2015 and is funded and run by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons(RCVS), the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the UK.
Click on the logo on the right to go to the Mind Matters Initiative's website.
