Your wellbeing matters: April 2025
Published: 4th April 2025
Shining the spotlight on the importance of personal wellbeing for medical and dental professionals.
This month, we are sharing resources for Stress Awareness Month, including our Working Well, Living Better virtual sessions, as well as promoting the Frontline19 service and Doctors in Distress' support offering.
Supporting you through Stress Awareness Month
April marks Stress Awareness Month, a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the negative impact stress can have on physical and mental health.
We appreciate that, due to the nature of your role, you may often be exposed to high levels of stress. Unique challenges, such as long hours, emotional strain from patient care and dealing with life-and-death situations can take their toll. It’s important to identify triggers and find ways to cope.
We have compiled a collection of useful resources to help you manage stress.
Working well, living better virtual sessions
If you're looking for short sessions that fit around your busy schedule, why not try to set aside 15 minutes to attend any of our weekly virtual sessions facilitated by our Wellbeing Team? No matter where you're based in the UK, join the following sessions for free at your convenience:
- Mindful Monday – 12pm – 12.15pm – 15 minutes of mindfulness – click here to join
- De-stress Thursday – 4pm – 4.15pm – Mindfulness to end the day – click here to join
- Chair yoga Friday – 12.15pm – 12.30pm – chair-based exercises suitable for all abilities – click here to join
Frontline19
Frontline19 is an independent UK-wide organisation dedicated to providing free, confidential psychological support to NHS and frontline workers. Established in March 2020, they offer a range of tailored services including:
- Confidential Psychological Support - Frontline19 matches individuals with qualified therapists for 8-12 sessions, accommodating shift patterns and offering support through various communication methods, including WhatsApp, email, phone calls, or Zoom.
- Courses and Workshops – They provide expert-led courses, workshops, and training resources focused on mental health and wellbeing. These are designed for NHS staff, emergency services, and other frontline workers, aiming to equip you with coping strategies and support mechanisms.
Doctors in Distress
Doctors in Distress is a charity dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals which aims to address the stigma surrounding mental health in the medical profession.
They also offer weekly support groups that provide a safe space to share experiences and concerns with peers. These webinars are also tailored towards IMGs. While we take pride in supporting many IMG colleagues-in-training, we recognise that moving to the UK can be both an exciting and challenging experience. The transition involves cultural adjustments, language barriers, and navigating a new healthcare system.
Have you ready Dr Iheme's story?
Last year, we caught up with Nigerian-born GP colleague-in-training Dr Gift Iheme to learm about her experiences settling into the UK, the challenges of transitioning to a new country, and her aspirations for the furture.
Wellbeing Hub
Have you visited our Wellbeing Hub? Bookmark it today to access a wide range of resources designed to support you throughout your employment with us, including:
- Neurodiversity support
- Wellbeing self-referral processes
- Bereavement support