Wellbeing Resources
This section of the website aims to provide our community with support on looking after their wellbeing and mental health. It’s vital we open up the conversation as workplace stress in healthcare affects not only doctors’ mental health, but the quality of care provided for patients. It’s more crucial than ever that you look after your own mental and physical health while you are looking after others. Recognising early on the red flags associated with occupational burnout can help you prevent it. We have developed a range of resources below to help you recognise warning signs, provide advice on looking after yourself, how to get help and where, and more.
BSG Member Assistance Programme - Wellbeing Support Initiative for BSG Members
We’re delighted to announce a new Member Assistance Programme to all BSG members, provided by Vita Health Group.
As a BSG member, you’ll have access to a 24/7 telephone helpline offering immediate emotional support and information. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the wellbeing online digital hub which offers self-help information and advice.
Vita Health Group is a fully accredited and award-winning specialist in workplace Musculoskeletal and Mental Health services. Their Assistance Programme is a 24/7 confidential service designed to provide practical and emotional support to prevent, address, and support all of life’s issues. Vita Health is currently the only provider to offer services that comply with the NICE Guidelines for the treatment of diagnosable mental health conditions.
What's included?
- 24/7 Immediate Emotional Support
- Guided Self-Help via a Computerised CBT platform supported with sessions delivered by a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
- Structured Counselling (Face to Face, Telephone, Video Conference)
- Digital Health & Wellbeing Portal with included HRA, links to wearable technology App, Live Chat etc
- Management support line
- Legal & Life Management Information Service
- Debt Management Support
Confidentiality
The service is available 24/7 and is completely confidential. The only information that will be shared with the BSG is your membership type and a unique case number.
Vita management Support Live Information
Vita Assistance Programme FAQs
Additional support options
Mental Health Treatment Services are available for the following membership types:
Consultants (both 7 PAs + and 6 PAs -), Trainees, Nurses (both Band 6+ and Band 5-), AHPs, AGIP and PAs (both Band 6+ and Band 5-), NCCG and GPs
If appropriate, you may be referred for mental health services. These may include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Interpersonal Therapy
- Counselling for depression
- Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy
- EMDR
- Consultant Psychiatry
- MDT working
How it works - the telephone helpline
The Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, giving unlimited telephone access to immediate emotional support.
Call: 0800 111 6387
From Abroad: 0845 330 5132
For Management Support Line, call: 0800 111 6385
An extensive range of practical support for legal, consumer and financial issues is available from 8.30am to 8.30pm Monday to Friday.
The helpline is there for you whenever you need. When you call the line, it will ask you to select number ‘1’ (For legal, consumer and financial information) or ‘2’ (For emotional support). Your call will be answered by a qualified advisor/counsellor who will talk through your reasons for calling and offer information, advice, support and signposting.
When you call, you’ll be asked to provide:
- Your organisation’s name (BSG)
- Your membership type (i.e. Consultant, Trainee etc)
- Your membership number if you have this to hand*
- Your contact telephone number
Other personal details such as name, date of birth and address will be required, however, this information is never shared with anyone unless there is any specific and immediate risk.
*Vita Health uses your membership number to confirm your membership status, this will not be shared with the BSG.
The Vita Wellbeing Hub
This platform provides access to general information, support, and guidance on a range of issues such as health and wellbeing, emotional/personal, work/career, legal and money worries. It also includes detailed FAQs on the services provided, as well as the opportunity to create a customised user profile to help you make the most of the platform.
To access, you’ll need a password, which will be emailed to all BSG members. If you need help finding your password, please contact our membership services team.
Useful Links
- NHS (England) – Supporting our People – Resources for NHS staff in England to help you manage your own health and wellbeing whilst looking after others
- Public Health Agency (Northern Irelend) – Staff Health and Wellbeing – Access to information and support for health and social care staff in Northern Ireland
- Scottish Government – National Wellbeing Hub – Resources for health and social care staff in Scotland to help manage their wellbeing
- Health Education and Improvement Wales – Health and Wellbeing resources – Resources and tools to support healthcare staff in Wales
- The BMA Counselling Service – Confidential helpline for all doctors across the UK, not just BMA members, also has a directory of support services
- NHS Staff Support Line – Free, confidential helpline for all NHS staff in England
- NHS Practitioner Health – Free, confidential NHS service for doctors across England with mental illness and addiction problems, who are working or looking to return to clinical practice
- Psychological Helplines from Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland – Local helplines supporting healthcare staff across Northern Ireland
- National Wellbeing Hub Support Line Directory – Directory of services for NHS Staff in Scotland
- Health for Health Professionals Wales – Free counselling service for all doctors in Wales
- Project 5 – Free wellbeing support service for healthcare workers
- RCP Mental Health and Wellbeing Resource – Opens up the conversation about mental health issues and their impact on physicians