PSS - Further help

Please see the list of resources available below.

The below resources are for members, patients and carers alike.

Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation is part of the national mental health response providing support to address the mental health and psycho-social aspects of the Coronavirus outbreak, alongside colleagues at Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Mind

General information from the charity about managing your wellbeing during the pandemic.

The Help Hub

A national online and phone service that was launched the week beginning the 23 March 2020 with the aim to provide a free service for as many people as possible by listening and supporting. Qualified therapists will be giving 20-minute support phone and Skype calls.

Action for Happiness 'coping calendar'

This Coping Calendar has 30 suggested actions to look after ourselves and each other as we face this global crisis together. 

Mencap Easy Read Information

Information about Coronavirus for people with learning disabilities. 

Carers UK - advice for carers

Current government guidance as it relates to carers, suggestions for making plans and answers to frequently asked questions.

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Information from RCOT to support people who are undertaking social distancing and for families to support their children while schools are closed.

Down Dog

Yoga app that's free for NHS staff until the 1st of July 2020.

SilverCloud

Free mental health support for NHS staff and their families.

NHS x Fiit

Fiit is offering Premium memberships to all NHS staff - for free. We’re here to help support anyone on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis and play our part.

Headspace

The mindfulness and meditation app is offering free subscriptions to NHS staff until the end of 2020.

Unmind

Unmind is a workplace mental health platform. They are offering free, unlimited access to NHS employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Innovation Network: Activities for Older Adults During COVID-19

A guide to online resources for those providing care for people with dementia.

The Great British Home Choir

The Great British Home Chorus aims to give everyone the opportunity to contribute their voices and instruments to an ambitious digital music project, conceived in the light of many closures to communal rehearsal spaces nationwide.

  • BMA Counselling and Peer Support Services

    BMA Counselling is staffed by professional telephone counsellors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    The Doctor Advisor service runs alongside BMA Counselling giving doctors and medical students in distress or difficulty the choice of speaking in confidence to another doctor.

  • DocHealth

    A confidential, not for profit, psychotherapeutic consultation service for doctors.

    All doctors in the UK can self-refer to this service, with fees depending on the grade and circumstances of the doctor.

  • Doctors’ Support Group

    A self-help group which aims to provide support and assistance to any medical professional or dentist facing suspension, exclusion, investigation of complaints and/or allegations of professional misconduct.

    The service is free and totally confidential.

  • Doctors' Support Network

    Peer support for doctors and medical students with mental health concerns, including stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders.

    All doctors in the group have been troubled at some stage in their lives. There are online support forums, regional meetings around the UK, and a newsletter.

  • Practitioner Health Programme (PHP)

    A free and confidential treatment service in England for doctors and dentists to access help with mental/physical health problems or addictions, which impact on work.

  • Support for Doctors

    Website developed by Royal Medical Benevolent Fund which has information about stress as well as mental and physical health advice for doctors.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Provides free, peer-based support to those who wish to recover from their addiction.

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (PDF)

A 10-item screening tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behaviours, and alcohol-related problems. 

British Doctors and Dentists Group

A recovery group for doctors and dentists addicted to alcohol and/or drugs.

Cocaine Anonymous

Provides free, peer-based support to help people recover from their addiction.

International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous

Peer-based support to help healthcare professionals recover from their addiction. Support is also available for doctors’ families.

Medical Council on Alcohol

An independent charity of health professionals from all medical specialties dedicated to improving the understanding and management of alcohol-related health harm.

Sick Doctors Trust

Helpline for doctors, dentists and medical students who are concerned about their use of drugs or alcohol.

BMA Charities

Two charities which help all doctors, and their dependents, and medical students in times of financial crisis.

Help me, I'm a doctor

Brings together five independent charities that support doctors when they need confidential financial assistance.

Royal Medical Benevolent Fund

A charity providing financial help for doctors, medical students and their families, who are facing financial hardship due to illness, injury, disability, bereavement or age.

Royal Medical Foundation

Support doctors and their dependents who find themselves in financial hardship.

British Medical Association (BMA)

The trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK.

Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association

A professional association and trade union which represents and advises all grades of hospital doctors in the UK, both in the NHS and Private Sectors.

Medical Defence Union

An organisation providing indemnity to doctors for incidents arising from their clinical care of patients. Their staff have expertise in medico-legal issues, complaints and claims.

Medical Defence and Dental Union of Scotland

A mutual organisation providing healthcare professionals in the UK with access to indemnity, assistance and support.

Medical Protection Society

A protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals.

Membership provides access to expert advice and support together with the right to request indemnity for complaints or claims arising from professional practice.

HEE East Midlands Professional Support Unit

Provides short-term, solution-focussed interventions for trainee doctors and dentists who are having difficulty progressing in training.

HEE London Professional Support Unit

Provides a shared service of expert resources to support the professional development of clinicians in London and the South East.

Access to the PSU is by self-referral.

HEE North East - Trainee Support Service

A professional and confidential service for all medical and dental trainees who need additional support.

Referrals are made by the Lead Employer Trust in conjunction with Heads of School, Training Programme Directors and School Managers.

HEE North West Careers Support

A dedicated, qualified careers team who work with trust staff to develop careers education, information, advice and guidance  and  help you with all aspects of your career planning process.

HEE West Midlands Professional Support Unit

Provides a holistic and collaborative approach in addressing concerns raised while making sure that patient safety, the safety of the referred trainee and others are not compromised.

HEE Yorkshire and the Humber - Take Time

A confidential counselling service specifically for junior doctors and dentists working across Yorkshire and the Humber (HEE YH).

The service is funded by HEE YH, and provided by a collaboration between the University of Leeds Student Counselling Centre and The Psychological Therapy Service, Leeds and York Partnership NHS FT.

Professional Support Unit (Oxford Deanery)

The single point of contact within Health Education Thames Valley PGMDE for all issues regarding careers and performance support for doctors and dentists.

Wales Deanery Professional Support Unit

Provides guidance and information to all parties involved in postgraduate medical and dental training.

Also responsible for addressing issues during training which could hinder progression.

Health Careers

An information service about the range of careers available in health.

Medical forum

An independent career support service for doctors and dentists of all ages.

RCPsych for med students

If you’re a medical student interested in a career in psychiatry, your first step should be to become a student associate at the College.

It’s free and there are lots of benefits.

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)

Provides information, advice, training, conciliation and other services for employers and employees to help prevent or resolve workplace problems.

British International Doctors’ Association

Protects the interests of international doctors and dentists working in the UK and promotes trans cultural health care.

Citizens Advice

Provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

An independent statutory body with the responsibility to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and protect and promote the human rights of everyone in Britain.

 
All workers in NHS trusts and foundation trusts in England have access to a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian if they wish to speak up but, for whatever reason, other routes are not suitable. You can find contact details for your guardian in the directory hosted on the National Guardian’s Office web pages. 
 

General Medical Council

The UK body that decides which doctors are qualified to work in the UK, oversees medical education and training, sets the standards doctors need to follow, and takes action to prevent a doctor from putting the safety of patients at risk.

Practitioner Performance Advice (formerly National Clinical Assessment Service)

Contributes to patient safety by helping to resolve concerns about the professional practice of doctors, dentists and pharmacists. They provide expert advice and support, clinical assessment and training to the NHS and other healthcare partners.

NHS Counter Fraud Authority

A new special health authority charged with identifying, investigating and preventing fraud and other economic crime within the NHS and the wider health group.

NHS Improvement

Provide strategic leadership and practical help to the sector, supporting and holding providers to account to achieve a single definition of success.

Protect

A whistle blowing charity that advises individuals with whistle blowing dilemmas at work, supports organisations with their whistle blowing arrangements.

Every Mind Matters

An interactive quiz that will deliver personalised advice and tips for you 

Get Self Help

This website provides CBT self help and therapy resources, including worksheets and information sheets and self help mp3s

5 Ways to Wellbeing

5 steps from Mind charity that have been researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation

Action for Happiness

Keep calm. Stay wise. Be kind.

Staying Alive

Suicide Prevention app

SAM: Self help Anxiety Management

Anxiety management app

Clear Fear

Anxiety management app

Calm Harm

Self-harm management app

Insight Timer

Sleep, anxiety and stress app

MindEd

MindEd is a free educational resource on children and young people's mental health for all adults

Read more to receive further information regarding a career in psychiatry