Who cares for the clinicians? The mental health crisis in the GP workforce
Johanna Spiers, Marta Buszewicz, Carolyn Chew-Graham, Clare Gerada, David Kessler, Nick Leggett, Chris Manning, Anna Taylor, Gail Thornton, Ruth Riley
Editorial The fact that a significant proportion of the UK’s GPs are living with mental health problems has been known for some time. Studies have shown that many GPs are depressed, anxious, stressed, or ‘burnt out’ as a result of practice pressures such as organisational changes and increased workload, the negative media climate, and a sense of isolation.1 There is evidence that GPs have difficulty accessing appropriate mental health or support services,2 for reasons around availability or concerns about confidentiality. Doctors are more likely than the general population to die by suicide, with female doctors, anaesthetists, GPs, and psychiatrists being the most vulnerable.3 Some clinicians experience alcohol addiction as a result of the pressures of practice.4