A charity founded to support the mental health of healthcare professionals in Great Britain has now extended its services to Northern Ireland. Doctors In Distress, established in 2019 by Amandip Sidhu, aims to address the increasing mental health challenges faced by doctors and other healthcare workers. Sidhu was inspired to create the charity after his brother, a consultant cardiologist, tragically took his own life due to the pressures of his profession.
Sidhu, who became aware of the widespread issue of burnout and mental health struggles within healthcare, stated that such cases are “a common phenomenon” in the profession. To honor healthcare workers who have died by suicide, a memorial tree will be planted at a GP surgery in North Belfast on Wednesday.
Recent statistics from the British Medical Association (BMA) Northern Ireland reveal that 62% of doctors in the region report “higher than normal levels of fatigue or exhaustion.” Dr. Alan Stout, a representative from BMA NI, pointed out that these issues are more severe in Northern Ireland compared to other parts of the UK.
Dr. Stout welcomed the charity’s expansion into Northern Ireland but emphasized that more action is needed. He called for the establishment of a “dedicated health service for doctors” in the region.
Sidhu highlighted alarming statistics in his conversation with the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster program. “One doctor dies by suicide every three weeks, and a nurse every week,” he explained. He also noted that doctors in Northern Ireland report significantly more negative experiences than their counterparts in England, Scotland, and Wales, including a higher level of dissatisfaction with their work. “The statistics are really quite stark,” Sidhu added.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt expressed support for the charity’s work in Northern Ireland, noting that improving outcomes for healthcare professionals is just as important as patient care. “While significant strides have been made in eradicating the stigma around poor mental health, more still needs to be done for doctors and healthcare workers who need better support pathways,” he said.
The expansion of Doctors In Distress is a crucial step in addressing the mental health crisis among healthcare workers in Northern Ireland, but experts stress that more comprehensive support systems are necessary.
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