Doctors don’t access mental health services

Three quarters of doctors would rather discuss mental health problems with family or friends than seek professional help.

The survey of over 3,500 doctors, in Birmingham, reveals that doctors are reluctant to access mental health services because they fear being tarnished by its stigma, with potential damage to their career and professional integrity.

Key among the findings, published in the journal Clinical Medicine, is that only 13% of respondents would choose to disclose their illness to a GP or another health professional and that when it comes to inpatient treatment, 79% would opt for treatment in either a private or distant facility, rather than be treated by local NHS services.

In both cases, the decision appears most often to be based around concerns that personal information would not be kept confidential and that this may compromise career and/or reputation.

Lead researcher Dr Alfred White said: “Doctors who are reluctant to seek professional advice for mental health issues may be putting themselves, and possibly also their patients, at risk and we are concerned that there are a lack of options for doctors who feel they are mentally unwell.

“Doctors suffer higher levels for depression and substance misuse, as well as higher rates of suicide than the general population. The apparent lack of confidence in the current system protecting doctors’ confidentiality may exacerbate these trends.

“Greater emphasis is needed to educate doctors on mental health and to improve and extend the options open to them for accessing mental health support.”

The study had a response rate of over 70%, indicating that this is an important issue for doctors. And, controversially, 8% of doctors said they would either self-medicate or opt for no treatment at all.

Meanwhile, Dr Samir Dawlatly, a GP trainee in Birmingham, writes in the BMJ this week about being  bipolar. “It is such a guarded secret (until now) that I instructed my GP not to link my summary care record to the “spine,” the national system for making data available to NHS organisations. My fear was that other colleagues and potential employers could find out about my diagnosis,” he says.

“However, how can I encourage my patients to be open about their mental health problems and support them in any battles against discrimination if I am not also as open? Surely I would be a hypocrite?”

Tags: Mental health