Resources

Sudden death of doctors in training - Health Education England 

The death of any individual is distressing, this is even more so when the death is unexpected or deliberate, as in suicide. Postgraduate Deans have a responsibility and duty of care to doctors in training. 

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Bereavement support during COVID-19

Our NHS People have provided guidance and support following the loss of a colleague, friend or family member during the Coronavirus pandemic. NHS England and NHS Improvement have put together a suite of resources that aim to help you access support during what will be a difficult time for our staff, given the restrictions and changes to normal grieving patterns and processes for staff who come from diverse backgrounds. 

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The “Memory List” contains the names and photos of doctors and other health practitioners lost to suicide or sudden accidental death. If you would like to include a friend or relative on this list do let us know.

Support Services for Doctors Across the UK

We are joining with the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) and with AAEM, ACEP, ACOEP, EMRA, RSA, RSO and SAEM to annually dedicate the 3rd Monday in September as National Physician Suicide Awareness (NPSA) Day.

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Responding  to the death by suicide of a colleague in primary care: A positive framework

Death by suicide is thankfully an uncommon event in General Practice – but what happens when it is one of your own? How do individuals and practices cope, and what support should be available to help them through the difficult time following the death by suicide of a member of the practice team? Building on the experiences of individuals who have been through this devastating scenario, this new report describes the difficulties faced and presents a framework of actions. It highlights several challenges for those diverse organisations who commission, represent and support practices, and who should be able to assist, for both the short and long term. These challenges must be addressed.”

Dr Alex Freeman, General Practitioner and Chair, The Louise Tebboth Foundation

Press release here

The direct link to the report here

Written by Professor Gail Kinman, Birkbeck, University of London and Dr Rebecca Torry, an experienced GP and trustee of The Louise Tebboth Foundation, the report draws on interviews with people working in GP practices who have personal experiences of a death by suicide within their team. It includes a review of best practice from other bodies and provides suicide ‘postvention guidelines proposals for timely and appropriate support to be put in place to help people and organisations recover.

Samaritans is designed to help give NHS staff someone to talk to in the event of suicidal thoughts, this is 0800 069 6222

Advice for managers for dealing with a staff death. NHS England » Practical steps in the event of a staff death