sources and organisations to help trainees in difficulty burnout counselling financial problems sexual orientation being gay and counselling

If you find anything you feel would be helpful to others, please email me here

Where To Get Help - locally and nationally

This page is provides guidance for BOTH trainers and trainees who are experiencing difficulty either with each other, in their personal lives or with the progression of training.

How Do I Know If I Need To Seek Help?

The easiest way to recognise when you're stressed out and need to speak to someone is when you look and feel like this:

The BMJ wrote a very interesting article on doctors who are not well. It's called "How Many Doctors Are Sick?" (click to read)

The Tenets for Difficult Situations

if you know of any more organisations that you have particularly found invaluable, please let me know: mehay.uk@lineone.net

Local Organisations That Can Help You

Organisation	Contact Details	What They Do
CAREERS ADVICE
University of Leeds Careers Centre	http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/	Careers advice and information for current students, including specific pages for International students and Postgraduates. This includes GP trainees in Yorkshire.
CULTURAL PROBLEMS & THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English night classes held at local schools and colleges		Ring around some of the local colleges in your residential area
English Language Resource Page	www.leeds.ac.uk/languages/resource/links/englink.html
The Language Centre, University of Leeds	The Language Centre, University of Leeds, LEEDS LS2 9JT, UK tel: +44 (0)113 343 3251; fax: (44) (0)113 343 3252; email: langc@leeds.ac.uk
Leeds English Language School	Leeds English Language School, 115 Victoria Road, Leeds UK, LS6 1DR , TEL : +44 (0)113 275 1964 info@leedsenglish.com http://www.leedsenglish.com/
GENERAL PHYSICAL/MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS
Hospital Counselling Services Bradford Hospitals Trust Counselling Service, Ext 5565	(through Occupational Health at the local hospital)	Run by clinical health psychology dept. Self referral or occupational health or line manager.
Leeds University Counselling Services	Leeds University Counselling Services,19 Clarendon Place, Leeds, LS2 9JY, Telephone: +44 (0)113 343 4107, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/uscs/
Occupational Health Department, St Luke’s Hospital	Occupational Health Department, St Luke’s Hospital, Little Horton Lane, BRADFORD, BD5 ONA, Telephone: 01274 734744
RELIGIOUS VALUES CONFLICTING WITH TRAINING
Some trainees have religious issues which interfere with their studies or the care of patients (for instance, we had a case where a trainee prayed for patients at the exclusion of additional management options). We have no protocol for this but perhaps your local local minister of religion or the Interfaith centre in Bradford might be good places to start.
Interfaith Centre	Interfaith Centre, Listerhills Rd, Bradford, BD7 1HT, Bradford, +44 (0) 1274 731674, email: interfaith@educationbradford.com http://www.ngfl.ac.uk/re/index.html	The Interfaith Centre in Bradford houses ministers from a variety of faiths who may help give you guidance.

National Organisations That Can Help You

Details of the General Medical Council’s role in helping sick doctors can be found at: www.gmc-uk.org : go to site map – then to problem doctors – then to ‘helping doctors who are ill’.

Organisation	Contact Details	What They Do
ALCOHOL & DRUG PROBLEMS
Alcoholic Anonymous	www.alcoholics-anonymous.co.uk	Alcohol dependence
BMA Doctors for Doctors Service	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7383 6739	Provides help for doctors in employment difficulties especially in relation to mental health problems and abuse of alcohol and drugs. The unit provides a signposting service to the area of help that is of most pertinence to the individual doctor’s case.
British Doctors’ and Dentists’ Group	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7487 4445 www.medicouncilalcol.demon.co.uk	A network of support groups of recovering medical and dental drug and alcohol users. Students are also welcomed. The groups are accessed via the Medical Council on Alcohol.
Clinicians’ Health Intervention Treatment and Support	Tel: +44 (0) 1335 342144 avoca@birdsgrove.freeserve.co.uk	Promotes a consistent response to substance misuse problems in clinical staff throughout the United Kingdom. The confederation recognises that dedicated services to deal with addictive behaviour in healthcare professionals are important components in any effective response to their problems.
Narcotics Anonymous	www.ukna.org	Drug misuse
Sick Doctors’ Trust	Tel: +44 (0) 870 444 5163 www.sick-doctors-trust.co.uk	A pro-active service, self-help organisation for addicted physicians.
CAREERS ADVICE
British Medical Journal Careers	http://www.bmjcareers.com/chill and www.bmjcareers.com/discrimination	A web-based matching scheme for doctors who have chronic physical illness and for those who have suffered from discrimination in their careers.
CULTURAL DIFFICULTIES
British International Doctors’ Association	Tel: +44 (0) 161 456 7828 oda@doctors.org.uk	Where cultutal or linguistic problems may be a contributing factor doctors can access the health counselling panel.
FINANCIAL HELP
Royal Medical Benevolent Fund	Tel: +44 (0) 20 8540 9194 seniorcaseworker@rmbf.org www.rmbf.org	Provides financial help for sick doctors.
GENERAL
Support4Doctors	Royal Medical Benevolent Fund 24 King’s Road Wimbledon London SW19 8QN www.rmbf.org +44 (0) 20 8540 9194	Getting the work/life balance right. Handling pressure. Dealing with career, health and financial issues. These are some of the challenges you may be facing as a doctor. Support4Doctors aims to put doctors and their families in touch with a range of organisations who can help. Covers several areas: money, health, work, and family for Drs & their families
SEXUALITY
Edward Carpenter Community of Gay Men	Address: BM ECC London WC1N 3XX Tel (UK only): 08703 21 51 21(National rate) Tel (non UK): +44 8703 21 51 21 contact_ecc@edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk http://www.edwardcarpentercommunity.org.uk	We are a group of gay men committed to principles of caring, trusting, personal growth, sharing, and creativity aimed at nurturing 'community' as an alternative to the commercial scene. We are open to all men who identify as gay and we particularly encourage and support disabled, black, older and younger men to become involved in our events. We organise Gay Men’s Weeks and shorter events each year at venues across the country. We go to Laurieston Hall in South West Scotland several times a year as well as Youth Hostels in the Lake District and centres elsewhere. Each venue is chose for its location and atmosphere and while we are there becomes our ‘safe space’ within which we can grow together as a community.
Gay and Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists (GLADD) (recommended)	http://www.gladd.co.uk/ secretary@gladd.co.uk By post: GLADD, BM Box 5606, London, WC1N 3XX.	GLADD have a wide range of members in the medical and dental professions - from students right up to professors - all specialities - right across the country. You may want to join GLADD for help/support/advice or may simply want to support their work or make social contact with other lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender doctors and dentists. Things which GLADD does: Regular social events Educational meetings Regional networking and social events They have an electronic mailing list to keep members in touch and a fully interactive members-only website Informal support and advice Special events for student members, women members and dentists Campaigning on your behalf - GLADD work regularly with the BMA, BDA, GMC, GDC, Medical Royal Colleges, NCAA, Department of Health, and many other organisations
Laurieston Hall	Contact: Evi Laurieston Hall Laurieston Castle Douglas Dumfries & Galloway DG7 2NB Scotland Telephone: Not published Electronic Mail: evi@phonecoop.coop no website unfortunately	From Easter to October a programme of events (music, self-help, creative, gay, etc.) brings up to 70 extra people a week. We grow as much fruit and vegetables as we can, keep cows, pigs, hens and bees, and do most of our own maintenance. All of us work part-time for the co-op for free. Issues that affect everybody come to a weekly co-op meeting in which decisions are made by consensus. Co-operation is our common ideology; under that umbrella we lean this way and that, are generally better at dealing with tomorrow than next year, are supportive of each other as individuals as well as co-op members... and we try to have a good time! If you want to know more or find out how to visit, please send an A4 stamped addressed envelope plus two first-class stamps (loose) for a copy of our newsletter.
MESMAC (Yorkshire) (recommended)	They have offices all over Yorkshire. To conact your local MESMAC group click on this link: http://www.mesmac.co.uk/contact/home.html http://www.mesmac.co.uk	This is a social group for Gay and Bisexual men of all ages their aim is to provide a space where gay people can meet and be themselves. It is mainly non–scene, has discussions, presentations, social outings etc.
Out Everywhere (recommended)	http://www.outeverywhere.com	Chat to other gay people in a relaxed environment and see what a great idea it is to become a member of OUTeverywhere. Make friends, it'll feel great meeting more people in your area and you'll get to hear more about the stuff that everyone's doing so that you can join in too! Loads of event listings in your local area.
STRESS & MENTAL HEALTH
BMA Counselling Service	Tel: +44 (0) 645 200169	Provides 24/7 telephone counselling by qualified counsellors.
Doctors’ Support Network and Doctors’ Support Line	Tel: +44 (0) 870 765 0001 lizzie@dsn.org.uk www.dsn.org.uk and www.doctorssupportline.org	Self-help organisations for doctors with or who have recovered from mental illness.
International Association of Stress Management	www.isma.org.uk +44 (0) 700 780430	Prevention and reduction of stress
WORK-LIFE BALANCE, REFLECTION ON LIFE, YOUR CORE VALUES & SELF DEVELOPMENT
Cortijo Romero	Cortijo Romero, 23 Cottage Offices Latimer Park, Latimer, Chesham, HP5 1TU, England Tel: +44 (0)1494 765775 Fax: +44 (0)1494 766577 cr@cortijo-romero.co.uk http://www.cortijo-romero.co.uk	Conventional holidays not for you? In search of something more authentic and meaningful? Solvent but stressed? Need to take care of yourself for a change? Love nature? Significant changes in your life? Want to explore and maybe develop yourself a bit? Or just to be in a warm, civilised environment where it's absolutely okay to go alone? You've found the right place!
Doctors Coach	www.thedoctorscoach.co.uk	Life coaching, recent series of articles in BMJ Career (autumn 2004)
Laurieston Hall	Contact: Evi Laurieston Hall Laurieston Castle Douglas Dumfries & Galloway DG7 2NB Scotland Telephone: Not published Electronic Mail: evi@phonecoop.coop no website unfortunately	From Easter to October a programme of events (music, self-help, creative, gay, etc.) brings up to 70 extra people a week. We grow as much fruit and vegetables as we can, keep cows, pigs, hens and bees, and do most of our own maintenance. All of us work part-time for the co-op for free. Issues that affect everybody come to a weekly co-op meeting in which decisions are made by consensus. Co-operation is our common ideology; under that umbrella we lean this way and that, are generally better at dealing with tomorrow than next year, are supportive of each other as individuals as well as co-op members... and we try to have a good time! If you want to know more or find out how to visit, please send an A4 stamped addressed envelope plus two first-class stamps (loose) for a copy of our newsletter.
Pellin's Contribution Training	Pellin Institute (UK), 15 Willow Walk, Cambs, CB7 4AT, UK +44 (0)1353 659577 people@pellin.org.uk http://www.pellin.org.uk	The Pellin institute offers professional training and personal self development programs in Contribution Training (CT) in the United Kingdom, southern Italy and north America. The programs range from short focussed workshops to longer residential programs and one to five year part time professional training programs in counselling and psychotherapy. Pellin practitioners work with individuals, couples, families, groups and organisations. "The best way to heal is to contribute. The best way to learn is to teach"
Skyros	Please contact our London office with any enquiries on +44 (0) 20 7267 4424 (tel) +44 (0) 20 7284 3063(fax) Skyros Holidays Ltd. 92 Prince of Wales Road London NW5 3NE UK Or email us on: office@skyros.com http://www.skyros.co.uk/	When you come on a Skyros holiday you are guaranteed to be in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. We offer alternative holidays where you can engage in the kind of courses, activities and conversations that will open your heart, expand your mind, recharge your body and inspire your imagination