A team of GPs is climbing the National Three Peaks to raise money for suicide prevention among doctors.
Over the next week, a group of five GPs, six consultants and three dentists will climb Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales to raise money for Doctors in Distress.
The group has already raised over £1,600 of its £2,500 target, with 75 contributors.
On the fundraising page, Durham GP Dr Kamal Sidhu said that ‘suicide does not discriminate’ and healthcare workers – including doctors, dentists, and nurses – are at ‘higher risk of suicide’.
‘We lose more than a doctor every week to suicide and a nurse attempts to take her life almost every day in the UK alone,’ the team said.
Dr Sidhu told Pulse that the ‘venture’ started as a way to ‘improve work-life balance through fitness’, but they are ‘very keen’ to fundraise for the charity due to its ‘unique’ focus on preventing mental health problems among both doctors and other healthcare workers.
He said: ‘It is our privilege to make a small contribution for Doctors in Distress charity but more importantly in raising awareness around the help available for us all as our “psychological PPE”.
‘There is a lot of stigma amongst doctors and dentists in seeking help for stress, depression, burnout and mental health etc. and recent violent protests have created an even more toxic environment for many.’
The Doctors in Distress charity is dedicated to providing mental wellbeing support to healthcare workers with the aim of reducing suicide rates.
Former RCGP chair Professor Dame Clare Gerada and Private Eye columnist and retired GP Dr Phil Hammond are currently raising money for Doctors in Distress by performing a show at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Last year, NHS Practitioner Health revealed that around one in 20 GPs in England were accessing mental health treatment via their service.
In April, NHS England U-turned on plans to cut funding for NHS Practitioner Health following strong criticism from the profession
NHSE had initially said the service could no longer take on new secondary care doctors and will have to review its offer to all staff groups – including GPs – in the long term.
But within a few days, the national commissioner went back on this decision saying it will ‘extend the service’ for secondary care health professionals by 12 months while a review is carried out.
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