Posted on: 14 December 2021
'The Huddle' is a new Keeping Well initiative facilitated by You Okay, Doc? (YOD), a mental health charity for doctors founded by doctors.
What it is
This Huddle Programme provides an additional space for all GPs, hospital doctors and speciality doctors/consultants across North West London (NWL) and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) area to share their stories, have conversations, and learn from each other on how to positively manage their mental health and wellbeing in order to get the best out of themselves.
Similar to a Balint group (the premise of which is to use case discussions to help focus on the emotions of doctors, rather than on clinical management, encouraging reflective practice), the huddles also provides the flexibility to discuss situations both inside and out of work life in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.
“Encouraging staff to use informal support mechanisms, like a Balint group, in addition to high quality psychological and wellbeing services, helps to foster team spirit and cohesion. Providing opportunities for staff to reflect regularly on their experiences, rather than using single session debriefs, also has the potential to foster resilience, reduce burnout, and lower the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.” - Vijay Pattni, Jeff Phillips, and Rajnish Saha
Sessions are held on Zoom so that participants can choose to be muted/unmuted and can opt to speak, if they wish. Cameras can be turned on or off and pseudonyms may be used if participants wish to remain anonymous. Each huddle is hosted by a qualified psychotherapist, and has a maximum of 12 participants.
When is it
- For North West London doctors huddles will be held every Monday starting Monday 17 January 2022 to 7 March 2022 at 8pm to 9pm.
- For BLMK doctors huddles will be held every Tuesday starting Tuesday 18 January 2022 to 8 March 2022 at 8pm to 9pm.
How to join
To join the programme, please click on the links below to register.
Zoom links and diary invites will be emailed through to you with reminders nearer to the date of each Huddle.
Keeping Well Services - free, fast and confidential psychological support
Keeping Well (NWL) provide wellbeing and psychological support to all NHS staff, volunteers and those providing care to others in the community (including in residential homes), as well as London Ambulance service. Visit website
Keeping Well (BLMK) provide wellbeing and psychological support to key workers including NHS staff, staff providing care to others in the community and in residential homes and voluntary sector organisations. Visit website