Sources of support for your wellbeing

Whether you are struggling with stress, grief, or looking for legal advice, use this resource to find support online, on the phone, and in your local area.

Location: UK
Audience: All doctors
Updated: Monday 25 November 2024
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Wellbeing
Your wellbeing

We have a range of services to support you.

  • Counselling
  • Peer support
  • UK wellbeing support directory

Call our free and confidential helpline on 0330 123 1245

Wellbeing support services directory

There are lots of organisations, services, websites, and helplines that offer support to doctors and medical students in need. Ordered alphabetically by topic.

Addiction

Alcohol support - NHS

NHS web page linking to alcohol support services (non-medic specific).

British Doctors and Dentists Group

A service for recovering alcoholic and drug-dependent doctors, dentists, and students.

Drugs support - NHS

NHS web page linking to drug support services (non-medic specific).

Gambling support - NHS

NHS web page linking to gambling support services (non-medic specific).

Sick Doctors Trust

Support and help for doctors, dentists, and medical students who are concerned about their use of alcohol and other drugs.

Bereavement


Dealing with grief and loss - NHS

A useful NHS guide to coping with grief and loss (non-medic specific).

For doctors: managing your wellbeing

A film by Child Bereavement UK aims to support doctors' wellbeing whilst working in the face of loss, grief, and bereavement. Film funded by BMA Giving

The Louise Tebboth Foundation

Supporting the mental wellbeing of medical practitioners and doctors’ families bereaved by suicide.

 

Counselling and support


The Balint Society

Balint groups help health professionals gain a better understanding of the emotional content of their relationship with patients.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

Search for counsellors in your area (non-medic specific).

BMA Wellbeing support services

Confidential, free 24/7 telephone counselling line and peer support service for all doctors and medical students. BMA members can also access a free structured course of up to six sessions of therapy with a counsellor.

Canopi (Wales)

Free and confidential mental health support service for social and health care staff in Wales.

DocHealth

Confidential psychotherapeutic consultation service for doctors. Fees based on your grade and circumstances.

Doctors' Support Group

Support group for any medical professional facing suspension, exclusion, investigation of complaints, or allegations of professional misconduct.

Doctors' Support Network (DSN)

Confidential peer group for doctors with mental health concerns.

Frontline 19

Free and confidential psychological support for frontline staff.

HSC staff health and wellbeing (Northern Ireland)

Psychological helplines for health and social care staff in Northern Ireland.

NHS 111 mental health

Get help from NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option if you need urgent help with your mental health.

NHS Practitioner Health - England

Free, confidential NHS mental health and addiction service for health and care professionals.

NHS psychological therapies (IAPT services)

Free psychological therapies on the NHS (non-medic specific).

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline

Call 0808 2000 247 for free and confidential advice 24/7 (non-medic specific).

Samaritans

Whatever you're going through, call 116 123 free 24/7.

Staff mental health and wellbeing hubs

The staff mental health and wellbeing hubs have been set up to provide health and social care colleagues rapid access to assessment and local evidence-based mental health services and support where needed.

Support for NHS leaders

Coaching and mentoring for NHS leaders.

Workforce Specialist Service

Confidential mental health service for health and social care staff in Scotland.

Disabilities


Acas guide on disability discrimination

Advice for employers and employees on disability discrimination at work.

Disability information and support services – NHS

Find disability information and support services near you (non-medic specific).

Disabled Doctors Network

Supports the welfare, rights and inclusion of chronically ill and physically disabled doctors and medical students.

Doctors and dentists with disabilities

A collection of resources and information for doctors and dentists who identify as having a disability, pulled together by NHS Practitioner Health.

 

Equal opportunities


GLADD

Association of LGBT Doctors and Dentists. Offers help/support/advice or simply the opportunity to make social contact with other lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender doctors and dentists. 

Melanin Medics

Promoting diversity in medicine, widening aspirations and aiding career progression. Supporting African and Caribbean aspiring medics, medical students and doctors in the UK.

Medical Womens Federation

The voice of UK medical women on medical issues. Improving the working lives of women doctors.

Finances


BMA Charities

A group of charities established to help all doctors and their families in times of need.  

The Cameron Fund 

A charity for doctors who are, or have been, general practitioners, and for their dependants. It offers help in times of poverty, hardship or distress. The Fund aims to meet the needs of its beneficiaries in the fullest and most practical ways possible.

Medics Money

Find a specialist Medical Accountant, Financial Adviser or Mortgage adviser specialising in doctors and medical professionals.

MoneyHelper Service for NHS staff

NHS people can call a support line, provided by the MoneyHelper Service, for free and impartial money guidance. Support also available via WhatsApp and Webchat.

Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (RMBF)

UK charity for doctors, medical students and their families. Provide financial support, money advice and information when needed due to age, ill health, disability and bereavement. Following a BMA Giving grant, they currently have a dedicated mental health support fund for doctors whose mental health conditions are affecting their ability to work – apply for financial support.

Royal Medical Foundation 

A medical benevolent charity which assists UK medical practitioners and their dependants who find themselves in financial hardship.

Society for Assistance of Medical Families

Membership society assisting doctors and the families of doctors in times of hardship.

Online tools

BMJ Learning

Professional skills and career development modules.

Guides and resources for doctors who receive a complaint

NHS Practitioner Health guides and resources for doctors facing a complaint or investigation.

Mentoring guidance for doctors

Overview of the benefits of mentoring, how to find a mentor or become one.

MIND toolkit

Practical advice and tips to help NHS leaders and line managers support better mental health.

NHS People guides

Short 10-20 minute guides to improve your wellbeing and experience of work.

RMBF - Health and Wellbeing

Advice on a variety of subjects regarding your health and wellbeing.

Second victim support

Information, guidance, and signposting to help with the impact of patient safety incidents.

Support for Doctors

GMC information and advice for doctors who have concerns about their own health.

UK doctors #longcovid

Facebook group for UK doctors experiencing long covid symptoms.

Wellbeing apps

Free apps for NHS staff.

You Okay, Doc?

Advice, guidance, and discussion on mental health and wellness topics for doctors.

Professional support units


There are local services provided by your postgraduate education provider that can support you with your health and wellbeing during your training.

Find these in our UK wellbeing support directory.

Royal colleges


Association of Anaesthetists - Wellbeing and support

Information and guidance on your wellbeing.

Confidential Support and Advice for Surgeons 

Telephone helpline from the Royal College of Surgeons providing confidential support from a counsellor or peer-to-peer support from a surgical colleague.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Informal peer-to-peer support for members seeking guidance on workplace issues, interpersonal difficulties, return to work options, or non-clinical concerns.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists mental health page

User-friendly and evidence-based information on mental health problems, treatments, and other topics.

Psychiatrists' Support Service, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Confidential peer support provided by telephone to psychiatrists of all grades who may be experiencing personal or work-related difficulties.

Speaking up


Freedom to Speak Up Guardian

Freedom to Speak Up Guardians support workers to speak up when they feel that they are unable to do so by other routes. Find contact details for your FTSU Guardian in the National Guardian’s directory.

Protect

A UK charity providing a free and confidential whistleblowing advice line.

Speak Up

A free, independent and confidential helpline for people working in NHS and Social Care organisations in England.

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