Exploring the barriers and facilitators to seeking support and guidance for mental health concerns amongst medical doctors in East Kent Hospital University Foundation Trust

It is widely reported that medical doctors experience a high rate of mental ill health. This study was designed to explore participants’ knowledge regarding support services in an English Trust and understand the barriers and facilitators to accessing support. We aimed to provide data that sheds light on how we can better support doctors’ mental health in our Trust. The objectives of the study were to better understand doctors’ help-seeking behaviour for poor mental health, and to investigate barriers and facilitators to seeking help for mental health amongst doctors.

A survey was sent within the Trust, and participants were recruited through Trust News, posters and snowballing. There were 64 respondents to the survey with a range of ages and grades.

This study found that 39% of respondents had experienced mental ill health within their working life. Of this, 44% sought help. Doctors most commonly sought help from their GP (43%) and peer support (43%). The most heard of services were occupational health (88%), freedom to speak up guardians (83%) and BMA counselling and support services (67%). The least well-known service was the Connectors (6%). The most common barrier for seeking help for mental ill health was lack of time (58%), followed by professional reputation concerns (50%) and confidentiality concerns (50%). The most common facilitators were a supportive workplace environment and knowledge of support available (36%).
Within the medical education department, strategies should be put in place, such as education sessions for our trainees to develop further awareness regarding the support available for mental health and the de-stigmatisation around mental health.