Stress, fatigue and burnout affect everyone differently. Some common warning signs include (but are not limited to):
changes in sleep and appetite
feeling ‘down’ most of the time
loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
increased self-criticism and irritability
difficulty focusing or concentrating
worrying about things that would never usually worry you
withdrawing from friends and family
lowered performance at work
increased use of alcohol and/or drugs.
Any of the above can occur from time to time, but it’s when they happen frequently and start to negatively affect your life day-to-day that you need to think about getting some support or help.
Check out the diagram below—when you hit the orange zone…take action!
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). All hospital RMOs on the DHB MECA and GP trainees on the GPEP1 MECA have access to fully funded counselling through EAP. This is a confidential service. Call 0800 327 669 or book online.
Medical Protection Society (MPS). All MPS members have access to fully funded confidential counselling through MPS. Call 0800 225 5677.
Beating the Blues. Your GP can refer you for free online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). For more information see www.beatingtheblues.co.nz
Talk to someone you trust. Keep in mind that you should always approach your own health professional (ie, your GP) for treatment.
MPS Counselling service
Call MPS on 0800 225 5677. Calls to this number can be made in the strictest confidence.
Press 1 for medicolegal adviser.
Your call will be answered by the duty medicolegal consultant who will ask who they are speaking to. But there’s no need to divulge the details of your situation; just that you would like to access the counselling service. Your name will not be recorded by MPS.
You may know of a particular psychiatrist or clinical psychologist you would like to see. If you do not have a specific person in mind, you will be provided with names of therapists in your area.
If you need more than four to six sessions, your therapist will be asked to contact MPS to arrange for more sessions.
