Practitioner Health Medical Director Dr Zaid Al-Najjar joined doctor, educator and award-winning writer Dr John Launer to discuss uncertainty in medicine, which can cause feelings of stress. Listen here: bit.ly/NHSPractitio... #StressAwarenessMonth
Stress Awareness Month Creating a Safe Space – Guided Mindfulness Resource with Dr Lisa Tyrer, Therapist, NHS Practitioner Health Listen: bit.ly/PHSafeSpaceGuidedMeditation
Creating a safe space to decompress after a demanding shift is a great way to reduce and manage feelings of stress. Why not follow along with Practitioner Health therapist Dr Lisa Tyrer's guided mindfulness resource? #StressAwarenessMonth #BeTheChange
Listen here: bit.ly/PHSafeSpaceG...
In the latest episode of Burnout and Beyond, Dr Lee David and Dr Richard Duggins discuss the importance of prioritising your wellbeing during periods of stress. #StressAwarenessMonth
Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch
Listen here: bit.ly/NHSPractitio...
Feedback Friday “I came to PH in a real time of need- I needed support to help control my work-related stress and anxiety. My clinician was absolutely fantastic. Talking through what had been going on helped me process what was happening, and they provided me with methods to help me acknowledge fear-based behaviours and control the worry. Without my clinician, I don't know if I would have had the confidence to leave the toxic environment I was stuck in.”
Stress is all too common within the health and care profession. Our therapists and clinicians are experts in understanding the struggles that health and care professionals face, and are able to equip their patients with the skills needed to manage and reduce feelings of stress. #StressAwarenessMonth
Reducing Stress At Practitioner Health – The Pebbles Initiative Stress Awareness Month
Inspired by the words of Muhammad Ali - “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe”, we launched our Pebbles Initiative to empower staff to raise the everyday obstacles that get in the way of delivering excellent care and working efficiently.
Pebbles are those small but frustrating issues that can have a big impact if left unaddressed, including rising feelings of stress. Our aim is to make it easy for staff to voice concerns, suggest improvements, and be actively involved in shaping solutions.
We aim to resolve all pebbles within three weeks, ensuring momentum and impact. The Pebbles Initiative helps to create a culture where continuous improvement is part of daily practice, and every voice contributes to better care, smoother working, and reduced stress for all our staff.
Here at PH, we reduce and prevent feelings of stress throughout our team by using the Pebble Initiative, which ensures that small issues faced by our colleagues are dealt with promptly, and don't become major hurdles. #StressAwarenessMonth
Download our template here: bit.ly/PHThePebbles...
Elizabeth Croton, PH Lead Clinician, spends lots of time working as a GP on the Isle of Barra and other islands in the Outer Hebrides. To manage feelings of stress, Elizabeth goes wild swimming! How do you manage your feelings of stress? Let us know in the comments! #StressAwarenessMonth
Practitioner Health Guided Mindfulness Variety of short guided mindfulness sessions for health and care professionals narrated by Practitioner Health Clinicians Dr Wendy Molefi, Dr Lee David, and Joanna Howes.
Sussex Mindfulness Centre The Sussex Mindfulness Centre offers online mindfulness sessions that are free to attend for all NHS staff across the UK.
Mindfulness Apps Insight Timer - Free meditation & sleep app with over 320,000 tracks. Calm- 1 month free trial & 50% off first year of Calm Premium with a Blue Light Card.
NHS England: Finding Calm Amongst the Chaos Short collection of videos produced in collaboration with Bright Sky including guided meditation, as well as breathing and movement techniques.
Mindfulness is a quick and easy way to ground yourself during moments of stress. There are a variety of free mindfulness resources available to access, including guided mindfulness resources narrated by clinicians from PH. Listen here: linktr.ee/nhspractitio... #StressAwarenessMonth
The ‘Ace Pie’ with Lynne Bennett, Therapist, Practitioner Health. Stress Awareness Month
So often in healthcare, achievement can be over-valued with other areas de-prioritised, leading to unhappiness, stress, and burnout. The ACE Pie is a very simple resource to monitor and schedule in activity to maintain a balance of achievement, connection, and enjoyment activities throughout the week.
ACHIEVE - work, chores, study CONNECT - with friends, family, community ENJOY - play, fun, pleasure Draw out the pie on Monday, and categorise activities throughout the week. Check in on Sunday, and if needed, schedule activities in the areas that were neglected for more balance the following week.
Achieve: - Meetings - Night Shift - Paperwork - Run clinic Connect: - Visit my parents - Go the gym with a friend - Call my sister - Spend work break with a colleague Enjoy: - Watch a new TV show - Take a bath - Order takeaway - Go for a swim
As health and care professionals, it can be easy to let your work take precedence in your life. Lynne Bennett, Therapist at Practitioner Health, uses the ACE Pie technique to help her patients feel less stressed by maintaining a work-life balance. #BeTheChange #StressAwarenessMonth
In this episode of Burnout and Beyond, Practitioner Health Clinicians Dr Lee David and Dr Richard Duggins discuss the CARE Model - a helpful tool to prevent and manage stress before it worsens. #StressAwarenessMonth
Watch: www.youtube.com/watch
Listen: bit.ly/NHSPractitio...
🧵(5/5) @bma.org.uk @nhsprachealth.bsky.social
Practitioner Health's phone lines and main registration form have now reopened!
Our phone lines and main registration form have now reopened!
Are you currently struggling with mental ill health or addiction, and can't access confidential treatment from local services? Practitioner Health may be right for you. Find out if you're eligible: www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/.
Box Breathing • Inhale for 4 seconds. • Hold breath for 4 seconds. • Exhale for 4 seconds. • Repeat process until you feel calmer https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/breathing-exercises#box
4-7-8 Method • Breathe in silently through your nose for 4 seconds. • Hold breath for 7 seconds. • Breathe out forcefully through your mouth for 8 seconds. • Repeat process up to 3 more times. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/breathing-exercises#478
Hot Chocolate Breathing • Imagine holding a mug of hot chocolate. • Take a slow, deep breath to smell the aroma. • Exhale completely through your mouth, as though you are blowing on the drink to cool it down. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/connection-corner/2020-12-18-hot-chocolate-breathing
Physiological Sigh • Take a long, deep inhale through your nose. • Without exhaling, take a second, shorter inhale to fully expand your lungs. • Slowly exhale through your mouth, emptying your lungs completely. • Repeat this process one or two times. https://traumaresearchuk.org/the-physiological-sigh/
Breathing exercises help to soothe your sympathetic nervous system, helping to reduce feelings of stress or anxiety. This #StressAwarenessMonth, #BeTheChange by having a go at a quick breathing exercise!
Wishing you a wonderful Easter from all of us at Practitioner Health!
Wishing you a wonderful Easter from all of us at Practitioner Health! 🌷
Feedback Friday: “The psychotherapy sessions have been very valuable in providing a safe space to explore work-related challenges specific to my role as a doctor. My clinician always listens attentively, asks relevant questions, and maintains a calm and supportive manner, which facilitates open discussion and reflection. These sessions have contributed positively to my self-awareness, emotional resilience, and ability to manage stress in the workplace.”
Practitioner Health's expert clinicians and therapists have a deep understanding of the stressors that affect health and care professionals, and are able to help their patients reduce and manage their stress through treatment and coping strategies. #StressAwarenessMonth
Support Groups – Doctors in Distress Online confidential support group facilitated by professionals for all health workers who are experiencing issues affecting their mental health. Wednesdays from 12:30pm, Thursdays from 6:30pm, and Sundays from 6:00pm
The Huddle - You Okay Doc? Online confidential group for doctors and medical students to receive advice and tips from other doctors, and chat freely about the effects of being a doctor on your home life and wellbeing. Wednesdays at 7pm
British Doctors and Dentists Group A support group for doctors and dentists who are recovering, or wish to recover, from addiction/dependency on alcohol, drugs, or other behavioural addictions. BDDG run online and in-person groups across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Peer Support Service - Royal College of Nursing Network for RCN members with lived experience of disability and/or neurodivergence. They share knowledge, give and receive non-professional support, and promote the benefits of a diverse healthcare workforce.
Support groups are a great way to reduce workplace stress. Through seeking advice, learning new skills, and hearing from fellow health and care professionals, you may find that a problem shared is a problem halved! #BeTheChange this #StressAwarenessMonth by joining a group for health and care staff!
Bank Holiday Opening Hours - Practitioner Health’s phone lines and main registration form will be closed from 8pm on Thursday 2nd April and will reopen at 8am on Tuesday 7th April.
This #BankHolidayWeekend, will be closed from today at 4pm, and will reopen at 8am on 7th April. If you are in crisis, contact 111, 999, your GP, or attend your nearest A&E as soon as possible.
Resources for Neurodivergent Health and Care Professionals – World Autism Day
Peer Support Service – Royal College of Nursing - Network for members with lived experience of disability and/or neurodivergence.
Autistic Doctors International- Community of autistic medical doctors which provides peer support, and conducts advocacy, outreach, and education.
Professional Support Unit - NHS England Workforce Training, and Education - PSUs are dedicated to the progression of postgraduate medical and dental trainees through their training, including coaching.
Whilst PH is not a specialist service for neurodiverse conditions, we are able to support health and care professionals struggling with mental ill health or addiction due to their neurodiversity. This #WorldAutismAwarenessDay, share this post to highlight the support available for our colleagues.
Stress Awareness Month: Book Giveaway 1. Follow us 2. Like this post 3. Leave a comment about the changes you have made to reduce or manage your stress
It's #StressAwarenesssMonth! With this year's theme being #BeTheChange, we are giving away a copy of Practitioner Health's Understanding and Managing Your Emotions Guide- a resource full of exercises to help you make small changes to improve your wellbeing!
For #SleepAwarenessMonth, Practitioner Health clinicians Dr Lee David and Dr Richard Duggins sat down to discuss ways to improve your sleep health, underlying causes of poor sleep, and CBT-I, a type of therapy for insomnia. Listen here: bit.ly/NHSPractitio...
Looking Ahead: April 1st – 30th April: Stress Awareness Month, #BeTheChange 8th April: Episode 7, Burnout and Beyond 30th April: Dr Helen Garr to speak at RCGP Conference - ‘A Vision for the Future of General Practice’
April is home to #StressAwarenessMonth! In line with this year's theme, #BeTheChange, we will be sharing how individuals, teams, and organisations can make small changes to reduce and manage stress- make sure to follow us for more!
Feedback Friday “Practitioner Health has been a great support for me during a rocky time in my life. My clinician has been supportive and a listening ear to share my troubles with, offering unbiased advice and guidance. I felt listened to and most importantly, I felt like I had someone to talk to during a time of vulnerability and distress. I am very appreciative of their support.”
PH is a mental health and addiction service delivered by health and care professionals, for health and care professionals. We're proud to provide a safe and confidential space for our colleagues to get well, and thrive in the jobs they love. Register here: www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
IRISi Advocate Educator IRISi, in partnership with NHS Practitioner Health, is launching a national pilot to support healthcare professionals affected by domestic abuse. This is a rare opportunity to join the IRISi team and help shape this important programme from the ground up. - Full-time - 12-month fixed term - Remote (with occasional travel) Salary: £36,363 Deadline: 6th April 2026 Apply Now: bit.ly/ApplyIRISi
IRISi are looking for an experienced and passionate domestic abuse specialist to join an innovative national pilot of the IRIS programme working in partnership with NHS Practitioner Health. Apply here: bit.ly/ApplyIRISi
Meet the Team: Dr Sonya Ghatahora, Lead Clinician Sonya is a GP and an expert in providing mental health support for health and care professionals. Through integrating clinical and lifestyle-focused strategies, Sonya is able to provide holistic, compassionate care for health and care professionals. Outside her role at Practitioner Health, Sonya specialises in perinatal care, women’s health, and lifestyle medicine.
Like Dr Sonya Ghatahora, our team members are continually dedicated to the wellbeing of health and care professionals and have a deep understanding of the struggles that they face. Register with Practitioner Health today: www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
This #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek, Practitioner Health therapist Anita Goraya highlights the small changes that neurodivergent health and care professionals can make to help them thrive at work.
Watch the full video here: bit.ly/PHNeurodiver...
This #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek, Practitioner Health Therapist Dr Anita Goraya delves into how the healthcare environment can worsen the mental health of neurodiverse health and care professionals.
Does providing support for neurodiverse staff members mean a reduction in standards? This #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek, Practitioner Health Therapist Dr Anita Goraya highlights the importance in "reducing friction" for neurodivergent colleagues.
Does neurodivergence only matter when something goes wrong? Practitioner Health therapist Dr Anita Goraya breaks this misconception down for #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek
This #NeurodiversityWeek, Practitioner Health Therapist Dr Anita Goraya discusses the common misconceptions that organisations, managers, or colleagues may have about neurodivergent health and care professionals.
This #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek, we will be highlighting the struggles that neurodivergent staff face at work, misconceptions surrounding neurodivergent health and care professionals, and how organisations can create neuroinclusive workplaces- keep your eyes peeled!
