• Occupational medicine · Jan 2009

    Doctors, their mental health and capacity for work.

    • Liz Miller.
    • liz@lizmiller.co.uk
    • Occup Med (Lond). 2009 Jan 1; 59 (1): 53-5.

    BackgroundInformation about doctors' mental ill-health is limited. This study looks at doctors' careers following mental illness and the strategies that helped them return to work.AimTo examine the effect of mental ill-health on doctors' careers.MethodsQuestionnaire survey of members of the Doctors Support Network (DSN). The DSN is a peer support group for doctors who have experienced, or are experiencing, mental ill-health.ResultsOne hundred and sixteen doctors (35% response rate) returned completed questionnaires (n = 116, 63% female, 37% male). Prior to their ill-health, 80% worked full time, 15% part-time, 2% were not working and 3% were medical students. Following illness, 33% worked full time (P < 0.05), 36% part-time (P < 0.05) and 29% were not working (P < 0.01). Flexible working practices were the most helpful reported strategy for enabling a doctor to return to work.ConclusionsFollowing mental ill-health, a doctor's capacity to work full time is reduced. Most doctors return to full-time or part-time work. With improved support, more doctors may be able to return to work.

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