Such a joy to record this first episode with Dr Lee David. An authentic, thoughtful conversation about burnout, recovery, and rediscovering meaning in work.
Too many in health and care are running on empty, but there is hope.
#BurnoutAndBeyond #WorldMentalHealthDay #NHSPractitionerHealth
How to De-Catastrophise Catastrophising refers to focusing solely on the worst-case scenario as the only likely outcome of a situation. This tendency stems from our human evolution, where our ancestors were forever on their guard against real physical dangers. In today's world, this heightened alertness isn't always appropriate or helpful. Instead, we can look to engage different areas of our brain so that we can handle situations more effectively.
How to De-Catastrophise • Be aware of your internal process • Calm your body (take a breath, stretch, go for a walk, check your body, relax your shoulders) • Recognise the catastrophic thought • Remind yourself that you have coped with life challenges thus far • You will be able to cope with challenges in the future, and support is available if needed • Imagine some alternative outcomes (both positive and neutral, rather than only catastrophic) • Bring yourself back to the present • Ask yourself what do you know for sure? What are the facts of the situation? • What can you do to problem solve or help resolve the situation?
Do you tend to get stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts during times of stress? Learn how to de-catastrophise in our newest ebook 'Understanding and Managing Your Emotions', which will be available to download free of charge on the 10th of October. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Self-Help Strategies for Low Mood - Establish a routine that doesn’t feel impossible, such as getting enough sleep and eating regular meals. - Engage in some form of physical activity - something that gets you out of the house and your blood pumping. Short walks can be wonderful. - Limit your consumption of news and social media to avoid ‘doom scrolling’ and comparison. - Celebrate small wins by congratulating yourself for cooking, preparing a meal, or going for a walk around the block. Be kind to yourself.
Self-Help Strategies for Low Mood - Re-establish social connections if they have faded by asking someone to grab a quick coffee or even sending a message to say hi if an in-person meeting feels overwhelming at first. - Be mindful of your consumption of junk food and alcohol and be cautious of other misleading quick fixes such as drugs or gambling. - Share your difficulties: this could be with a professional at NHS Practitioner Health, your GP, the Samaritans, or with friends and family. A problem shared is a problem halved. - Seek help if you are feeling suicidal or may self-harm. Call 999, 111, your GP, Samaritans, go to your nearest A&E, or text NHSPH to Shout.
Low mood can creep up on us. If you have been experiencing low mood, and cannot access confidential support from local services, register with Practitioner Health today.
Listen to our podcast episode on how you can manage your low mood here: bit.ly/4pgYvx8 #NHSPractitionerHealth
Locus of Control: Learning to Take Back Control in Healthcare Understanding and Managing Your Emotions: A Guide and Toolkit for Healthcare Professionals
In life, and particularly in healthcare, we spend a lot of time trying to influence others: friends, relatives, patients, colleagues, teams, and even systems. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we do not, but what we often overlook is how we influence ourselves. We tend not to think about our own internal responses, the stories we tell ourselves, the tone we take with ourselves, and the way we react to what is going on around us.
This is often described in psychology as the difference between an internal and external locus of control. Put simply, it’s about where we believe control over our life sits. Someone with a more internal sense (or locus) of control believes they can influence their own thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, even in difficult situations. Someone with a more external locus of control might feel that things just happen to them, that others dictate how they feel, or that luck and circumstance determine the course of their life.
It is important to note that this is not about fault or blame. In fact, blaming ourselves or others is often what keeps us stuck. Taking back control means shifting from “Whose fault is this?” to “What can I do next?”, not to fix the entire situation, but to influence our part in it. That shift can be subtle, but powerful. It might mean recognising that you for example, can’t stop the rota from being changed last-minute, but can choose how you prepare for it or what you do afterwards to recover.
Moving towards having an internal sense of control allows us more agency over our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. If you have been feeling increasingly overwhelmed at work and cannot access support from local services, Practitioner Health may be right for you. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Feedback Friday: "This service has been absolutely fantastic, and both life and career-changing. When I came to the service, I was anxious, underconfident, and felt hopeless about improving my situation. I felt lost. It’s taken a long time but my clinician has been there every step of the way- always in my corner, supporting me and cheering me on. I’m now in my higher training post and have passed the exams I’ve been struggling with for so long."
Many health and care professionals come to Practitioner Health feeling overwhelmed by their emotions. Our skilled clinicians are able to successfully support and equip their patients with the skills they need to get back to thriving inside and out of work. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Feedback Friday: Practitioner Health has been invaluable as a resource to help me deal with a variety of mental health struggles during my foundation years. My clinician has been validating and supportive throughout, giving me permission to put my own health first and get myself back on my feet when I needed it. PH is an incredible source of support for healthcare professionals and I can’t thank them enough.
Foundation years can be challenging. If you find that you’re struggling, you are not alone. If you are unable to access mental health or addiction treatment from local services, register with us today. #NHSPractitionerHealth #TipsForNewDocs
Feedback Friday: "I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart involved in supporting me through my breakdown to be able to return to work successfully. Collectively the team saved my life and enabled me to return to being a mum, wife, daughter, friend and doctor. The team made me well by caring with organisation, time, skill and kindness. I have so loved being a doctor and you gave me this love back when I had lost it."
We’re proud to have provided a safe and confidential space for health and care professionals to get better at their own pace for over 16 years. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Feedback Friday: There is no exaggeration when I say Practitioner Health likely saved my life. They helped me into rehab, aided with getting me on the appropriate medication, and were there for me during the darkest time of my life. I cannot thank those involved in my care and the organisation as a whole enough. Thank you.
Our clinicians and therapists at NHS Practitioner Health deeply understand the struggles and needs of health and care professionals, and have helped many of our patients get well and return to the job they love. #NHSPractitionerHealth
In the last 12 months the average GAD7 score of Practitioner Health's patients with anxiety reduced by 8.01 between registration and completition of treatment. 'Outcomes: 3034/25', NHS Practitioner Health Annual Report 2024/25.
NHS Practitioner Health's clinicians are experts in providing mental health treatment for health and care professionals, as shown by the significant reduction of anxiety experienced by patients after completing their treatment. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Feedback Friday: I initially chose my clinician as she had an early appointment and an interest in neurodivergence . My family are all neurodivergent, so I found it useful to have a professional who understood this. She has been fantastic throughout my time with the service. She listened, was understanding, and has validated my feelings . I am so very grateful that Practitioner Health was available to me and I now feel well enough to get back to work.
As well as having a deep understanding of the struggles that health and care professionals face, our expert clinicians also specialise in a variety of topics, including neurodivergence. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Feedback Friday: Thank you again for all of your help. I would never have been able to get back into training and would certainly not have been able to sit any exams before my treatment. The work that you and your team do at Practitioner Health is so vitally important, and quite literally saved my life. The work that you did with me was absolutely invaluable and is still continuing to help me now, some two years later.
In the last year, we have helped over 800 patients return to the job they love. Here at Practitioner Health, we are proud to take care of the workforce that selflessly cares for others. #NHSPractitionerHealth
At PH, I’ve worked with many LGBTQIA+ colleagues who’ve shared the emotional toll of discrimination in healthcare. Allyship matters. But there's something even more vital: solidarity. Solidarity involves stepping up, speaking out, and standing together.
Here at NHS Practitioner Health, we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for our LGBTQIA+ patients and staff. #NHSPractitionerHealth #Pride
Group Therapy at NHS Practitioner Health. Group therapy is an integral component of what NHS Practitioner Health offers. After being assessed, our patients may be referred to one of our various support groups, which focus on topics such as burnout, addiction, suspension, and neurodiversity. Participation in a peer group helps reduce feelings of isolation and shame, offering our patients the recognition that they are not alone in their struggles. Many of our patients report that engaging with others facing similar pressures within highly demanding NHS environments fosters a profound sense of shared experience.
Here at #NHSPractitionerHealth, we offer a variety of referral-only support groups designed in collaboration with our expert clinicians and therapists to identify needs within the health and care workforce. For more, read our annual report: www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/news/annual-...
Feeback Friday: "I am very grateful to NHS Practitioner Health for all of the support I was offered. The ease with which I was able to access services and the flexibility they offered allowed me to stay in training whilst I received CBT whilst monitoring me closely to ensure I was safe to do so."
Our expert clinicians at NHS Practitioner Health are dedicated to ensuring that our patients are able to stay in and return to the job that they love. We are proud to care for those who care for others. #NHSPractitionerHealth
In the last year, 6339 patients accessed NHS Practitioner Health. Read more here: www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/news/annual-report-202425
In the last year, 6000 patients accessed the service. NHS Practitioner Health's role is to provide a safe, confidential service which health and care professionals can access mental health and/or addiction treatment without fear of judgement. Read more: bit.ly/PHAnnualRepo... #NHSPractitionerHealth
In the last twelve months NHS Pracitioner Health helped more than 800 patients return to work.
NHS Practitioner Health helps to ensure that health and care professionals can return to safe and effective clinical practice. Our team are experts in understanding how work can impact mental health, and supporting our patients through their journey back to work. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Feedback Friday: I have been overwhelmed by this service both in quality, accessibility, confidentiality, and its tailored approach to mental health as a doctor. As doctors, we carry the responsibility of patient care but are vulnerable to difficulties as are any individuals. Services such as NHS Practitioner Health recognise and respond to this. Many thanks.
As an expert mental health and addiction service that treats health and care professionals, we are proud to have helped many healthcare staff get well and return to do the job they love. #NHSPractitionerHealth
We are experts in caring for those who care for others, providing confidential, compassionate support for mental health and wellbeing. If you are struggling, don’t wait. It is always better to reach out sooner rather than later. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Feedback Friday: I'm so glad there is a service for NHS staff. I'm appreciative. My clinician was supportive, caring, empathetic, skilled and gave me so much time. I'll never forget her. Thank you so much.
NHS Practitioner Health's clinicians are experts in treating health and care professionals with an acute understanding of the pressures that healthcare staff face. #NHSPractitionerHealth
Meet the NHS Practitioner Health Team: Dr Lisa Tyrer, CBT Psychotherapist and Group Facilitator.
Dr Lisa Tyrer's experiences of severe anxiety motivated her to become a therapist at NHS Practitioner Health, where she supports health and care professionals struggling with mental ill health. #NHSPractitionerHealth
NHS practitioner health is a vital service & life saving for many of those who need it. Thankfully I never have but I am grateful to know it’s there if I ever did!
#nhs #mentalhealth #nhspractitionerhealth
Wellbeing with NHS Practitioner Health: "For me, incorporating physical activity into the week is a really important way of managing my mental health and wellbeing." - Dr Zaid Al-Najjar, Medical Director.
This month, try and incorporate physical activity into your week! #NHSPractitionerHealth
Meet the Team: Navneet Singh, Psychotherapist and Group Facilitator. Navneet Singh’s work is primarily one-to-one, brief intervention psychotherapy. Navneet specialises in substance and process addictions, with his core work focusing on underlying factors that inform addictive behaviours and substance or alcohol misuse.
Navneet Singh is a Psychotherapist and Group Facilitator here at NHS Practitioner Health! #NHSPractitionerHealth
Understanding Emotions Wellbeing Podcast Series- Compassion and Empathy with Dr Maiedha Raza. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3PFYAKq
In the latest episode of Understanding Emotions, Dr Maiedha Raza joined Dr Zaid Al-Najjar and Simon Lyne to discuss why compassion, empathy, and sympathy are important to have in healthcare. Listen here: buff.ly/40I25GD #NHSPractitionerHealth
NHS Practitioner Health Possibilities Group- Addictions and Alcohol/Substance Abuse Support Group. The Possibilities Group aims to offer a safe, supportive interpersonal space where participants can benefit from the therapeutic factors that it can generate by providing a safe environment where reflection, clarification and contact with personal living values can occur. Perspective taking, common humanity, emotional support, problem solving, and skills development can take place within the group, in the service of long-term abstinence from alcohol and drugs.
The #NHSPractitionerHealth Possibilities Group is an online support group for health and care professionals struggling with addictions. If you are unable to access confidential mental health or addiction treatment from local services, register with us today.
We will be closed for staff training on Thursday 9th January between 11.30am and 4.30pm. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP/111/A&E as appropriate. #NHSPractitionerHealth
What key topics do you want us to delve into this year? Let us know in the comments below! #NHSPractitionerHealth
8 Ways to Look After your Mental Health Whilst Working Over the Holidays: 1. Utilise employee perks such as free transportation 2. Bring in some treats for you and your colleagues 3. Arrange an alternative celebration 4. Go the extra mile when greeting staff, colleagues, and patients
8 Ways to Look After your Mental Health Whilst Working Over the Holidays: 5. Make plans for after your shift 6. Acknowledge that your colleagues are in the same boat 7. Take food into work to share 8. Call family before or after your shift
Working on Christmas Day and New Years eve can be hard. Try out NHS Practitioner Health Clinical Director Richard Jones' 8 ways to look after yourself whilst on shift this festive season. #NHSPractitionerHealth
NHS Practitioner Health Clinician Job Advert- read here: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/A1199-24-0077
Want to make a difference in the lives of health and care professionals? Apply to be a NHS Practitioner Health Clinician! https://buff.ly/3ONIYE9 #NHSPractitionerHealth
Festive Period Opening Hours 24th Dec- 9am-5pm 25th Dec- Closed 26th Dec- Closed 27th Dec- 9am-5pm 28th Dec- Closed 29th Dec- Closed 30th Dec- 9am-5pm 31st Dec- 9am-5pm 1st Jan- Closed 2nd Jan- Normal Hours: 8am-8pm
Our opening hours will be reduced during the festive period. For any queries, please email prac.health@nhs.net or call 0300 0303 300. #NHSPractitionerHealth
