Wellbeing support and resources
If you’re struggling right now, speak confidentially with a trained counsellor at any time. Call 0800 028 0199 and let them know you’re a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Now more than ever, it is important that you take time to check in with yourself and prioritise your own mental health and wellbeing, recognising that it is more difficult to provide outstanding care for others when you are not adequately cared for yourself.
The best surgical brains protect their own minds; find resources to help you protect yours below.
Confidential support and advice with Health Assured | Wisdom Wellbeing
Your membership gives you free, confidential, award-winning wellbeing support through our partner Health Assured (HA) Wisdom Wellbeing. You can access support and guidance with any personal or professional problems that affect your overall health and wellbeing.
To access your benefits, register through the Wisdom portal or download the Wisdom app. Use code MHA021282 to register.
Wisdom app
The Wisdom app is designed to support your mental and physical health by tracking your wellbeing and setting personal goals. Members can find tools and resources to help meet their health needs.
Features include:
- Health trackers (such as sleep, steps, hydration and mood)
- Four-week health plans
- Leaderboards with friends
- Mini health checks
- Breathing techniques
To learn more about the app, watch the introductory Wisdom app video. You can download Wisdom on the App Store and on Google Play.
Free 24-hour confidential helpline
You can call 0800 028 0199 anytime for confidential support with a range of issues, such as family matters, legal or medical questions, relationship advice, housing, alcohol or drug concerns, childcare, stress, anxiety, bereavement, or consumer problems.
A HA Wisdom Wellbeing counsellor will answer your call and ask for your name and organisation. Please mention that you are a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Counselling
A range of flexible options such as telephone, video call or online (live chat) via the Wisdom portal or app.
All counsellors are fully qualified and accredited by the BACP and/or NCPS.
Legal and financial advice
The helpline and Wisdom app give you access to legal information and guidance on a wide range of financial and legal matters.
The HA Wisdom Wellbeing in-house legal advisors are fully trained and have extensive experience in providing immediate support. They can assist with a wide range of issues by providing information on legal processes, obligations, and liabilities, enabling you to identify your next step and make informed decisions about the best way to resolve the issue at hand.
Critical Incident support management
An effective debriefing procedure to help you normalise the often overwhelming psychological, physiological and emotional responses to minor, moderate and severe critical incidents.
Surgeon to Surgeon support
If you feel you would benefit from peer-to-peer professional support, then the counsellor can arrange for you to be referred to an appropriate surgical colleague who will be able to offer confidential and impartial advice.
*Please note that this service is available to UK and Republic of Ireland residents only.
Doctors support network (DSN)
An independent, confidential and friendly self-help group for doctors who have experienced mental distress or mental health problems. The service is for doctors and run by doctors. The purpose of the group is to learn to be kinder to ourselves and others and to know we are not alone. The DSN currently has regular meetings throughout the country. The organisation is growing and has plans for meetings in other areas in the future.
DSN members receive a monthly newsletter. All calls to the DSN phone line are answered by fellow medics and there is a lively email discussion group.
Find out more or contact DSN on 0870 321 0642.
DocHealth
DocHealth is a confidential, not for profit psychotherapy service for all practising doctors in the UK, delivered online by doctors who are specialist Consultant Medical Psychotherapists.
The service helps doctors, who self-refer, to explore difficulties, both professional and personal.
Fees are charged according to grade and support may be available in cases of financial hardship.
For further information, visit the DocHealth website.
Doctors in Distress
Doctors in Distress is a UK-based charity focused on protecting mental health and preventing suicide in healthcare workers.
They run a range of peer support groups and programmes throughout the year.
Visit the Doctors in Distress website to find out more.
Alcohol abuse resources
British Doctors and Dentists Group
A support service for recovering and actively addicted doctors, dentists and their families which offers confidential advice and support.
There are 16 groups which meet monthly throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Advice is provided by local recovering doctors or dentists.
This is a confidential contact line based at the Medical Council on Alcohol, a charity committed to improving medical understanding of alcohol related problems.
Telephone (Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm): 020 7487 4445.
Drug abuse resources
The Sick Doctors' Trust
A proactive service for actively addicted doctors which is structured to provide an early intervention programme.
The trust facilitates treatment in appropriate centres, arranges funding for inpatient treatment and provides advocacy and representation when required. A charitable trust controlled by a board of trustees and staffed by doctors in recovery.
Find out more or contact the 24-hour helpline on 0370 444 5163.
General resources
British Medical Association Counselling Service
The British Medical Association runs a confidential counselling service for all members and their families who are under stress through personal, emotional or work related problems, relationship difficulties, health worries, debt, bereavement, and alcohol and/or drug misuse, etc.
It is staffed by qualified counsellors dedicated to the BMA and bound by strict ethical codes of conduct and confidentiality. Details of conversations with counsellors will not be relayed to employers or the BMA.
Find out more or contact the 24-hour helpline: 0330 123 1245.
GMC Investigation Support - BMA Doctor Support Service
Are you going through a GMC investigation? Do you feel you would benefit from emotional support?
Confidential, emotional support for doctors going through fitness to practise procedures with the GMC, or at risk of having their licence withdrawn.
Find out more or contact 020 7383 6707 or email doctorsupportservice@bma.org.uk.
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges support for doctors
Working in the NHS can be very challenging. It is vital that all doctors and NHS professionals support one another by providing an environment that encourages and enables us to make choices that promote healthy lives and wellbeing. We need well doctors so that patients receive the best care and management possible.
If you or a colleague is looking for support there are a range of organisations, services and websites which can offer help.
British International Doctors' Association
The British International Doctors' Association was established in the United Kingdom with the sole objective of promoting equality and fairness for all doctors and dentists working in the UK. BIDA's mission is to achieve equal treatment of all doctors and dentists based on their competence and merit irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, country of origin or school of graduation.
The association provides a heath counselling panel that may be useful where cultural or linguistic factors are prominent.
Financial resources
Royal Medical Benevolent Fund
Royal Medical Foundation
The Royal Medical Foundation aims to assist GMC registered doctors and their families in financial hardship.
Contact: rmf-caseworker@epsomcollege.org.uk or 01372 821010