The YODPOD

We are super honoured to have Dr Sula Windgassen as our guest this episodes.  Dr Sula needs no introduction, but just in case,  Sula is a health psychologist, cognitive behavioural therapist, EMDR therapist and mindfulness teacher with over 10 years of working with people who have chronic illness in the NHS, academia and private practice.   If that is not enough, Sula has completed not one, but two doctoral qualifications and has experienced the impact of persistent bladder and pelvic symptoms and is a passionate advocate for women's health.  There is so much to be learnt from this conversation, we hope you enjoy it as much as we have.

Dr Sula and Tom weave their way through a variety of hot topics including unconscious bias in relation to treatment of patients, signals of stress, negatives of social media on pathologising our experiences and some top tips for deepening our connections with our friends and communities. This episode is absolutely full of key takeaways and we can't thank Sula enough for her time and all her work in the mental health space. 

Please download, rate, subscribe and share with your friends!  

The 3 peaks YOD squad, regroups and debriefs on the weekend! 

From cramping quads, iron men trustees, olympic athletes and the mountaineering GOAT - Jenny Baker, this episodes describes the secret sauce that made the weekend a success. From 17 strangers meeting for the first time in Cambridge to a supportive, vulnerable and connected group at the end of the weekend. 3 peaks was our goal, but everyone came away with a richer experience - we enjoyed the journey, learnt from each other, passed on the egos and endured the pain to complete the challenge. 

Download, rate, subscribe and share with your friends! 

Cambridge University Professor Giles Yeo MBE  is the guru of how our brains control our bodyweight - coined "The Weight Loss Scientist" by the Diary of the CEO, he is the go to person about genes and our relationship with food. Prof Yeo has also hosted several BBC documentaries, is a best selling author, radio presenter and in his spare time a brilliant singer!  

Prof Yeo and Tom Mitchell effortlessly churn out practical advice for working professionals and eating habits, while also addressing  topical issues surrounding weight stigma, our stress response - are you an eater of a faster? The use of language in mental health,  empathising with yourself and navigating being the expert.  The passion from Prof Yeo in this episode is infectious, we hope you enjoy it as much as we've enjoyed making it. 

This podcast is hosted by former England Rugby 7's captain and silver medalist Olympian and YOD patron the wonderful, Tom Mitchell.  

Please download, rate, subscribe and share with your friends and colleagues!

Julia Samuel MBE is a leading psychotherapist, patron for You Okay, Doc & Nurse? and best selling author, including Sunday Times bestsellers of Grief Works, This Too Shall Pass & Every Family Has A Story.  She has taught us so much and we can't wait for you to learn from her too. 

This episode is jam packed with golden nuggets as Julia and Tom navigate into topics on judgement, connection, mental health illness, the role of social media and mental health, and learning to accept that life can be difficult.  Julia and Tom also dive into the sacrifice that doctors make for their career and just how addictive being a doctor can be - a career that they go into to save the lives of others sadly sometimes at the cost of their own. 

This podcast is hosted by former England Rugby 7's captain and silver medalist Olympian and YOD patron the wonderful, Tom Mitchell.  

Please download, rate, subscribe and share with your friends and colleagues!

In this bonus episode of the YODPOD, we speak to Dr Nicholas Andreou, who is the co-founder of Locum's Nest. Join us as we discuss:

• Dr Nicholas' journey as a doctor and what challenges inspired the idea behind Locum's Nest
• The challenges of building a start-up from the ground up
• The importance of mental health and wellbeing for the medical community and how that is embedded into Locum's Nest mission
• How healthcare professionals are using Locum's Nest and how flexible working is changing within the NHS

This podcast was hosted by YOD CEO Dr Dan Gearon and YOD Chief Psychotherapist Chris Cherry

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If you like what you hear, please do give us a rating to help us reach as many people as possible.

It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views are of those in this discussion in its own context at that time of the recording. You Okay, Doc? is a charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of doctors.  Throughout our podcasts, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that at times some may find upsetting, if you find yourself affected by these please seek professional help.

As a charity, we need your help to keep going and develop to support and raise awareness of mental health for Doctors.  Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page to find out more and stay up to date with us.  If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting.  To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70331,  or to donate £5 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.  Thank you for listening and we look forward to creating more content.   See you on the next YOD pod.

In this YODPOD, we get inspired by our conversation with YOD Ambassador, GP & Coach, Dr Alexander Lai. 

We discuss: 

• Dr Alex's personal journey to becoming the mental health advocate for medics he is today - and all the changes he feels so passionately about making for NHS staff
• An honest account of navigating a personal difficulty during GP training, his experience of accessing support through occupational health & more - and the personal anxieties of taking time out of training
• His huge variety of mental health roles including for the Royal College of GPs, becoming a mental health carer,  founding The WorkWell Doctors , being part of the NHS Supports Choir - and of course being a hugely valued YOD ambassador! 
• His encouragement for us all to CELEBRATE the amazing positives about working for the NHS🌈 and not just focus on the difficulties - including what our personal favourite things are 
• The sad reality of bullying in the NHS & why we think it happens 
• The importance of community and embedding peer support offerings like the YOD Huddle and reflection time after difficult moments into medic culture for all specialties
• The value of reframing mindsets to see challenging moments as opportunities to grow and learn
  
  ....and so much more!

We were inspired by the overwhelming passion & energy Dr Alex brought to our conversation & his YOD ambassador role - and the positive difference he is already making for our profession. We are privileged and proud to call Dr Alex our YOD Ambassador.

This podcast was:

• Hosted by YOD CEO Dr Dan Gearon and YOD Chief Psychotherapist Chris Cherry
• Sponsored by #firstrespondersfirst.  We are proud to partner with them to support doctors globally. 

...................................

If you like what you hear, please do give us a rating to help us reach as many people as possible.

It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views are of those in this discussion in its own context at that time of the recording. You Okay, Doc? is a charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of doctors.  Throughout our podcasts, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that at times some may find upsetting, if you find yourself affected by these please seek professional help.

As a charity, we need your help to keep going and develop to support and raise awareness of mental health for Doctors.  Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page to find out more and stay up to date with us.  If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting.  To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70331,  or to donate £5 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.  Thank you for listening and we look forward to creating more content.   See you on the next YOD pod.

In this episode, we had the privilege of speaking to YOD Ambassador, Dr Stephanie Slater. 

We explore: 

• Dr Stephanie's inspirational and honest account of her personal battle with depression & anxiety  - and how she transitioned from surviving to thriving 
• Overcoming stigma about anti-depressants and practical advice about what to expect
• Celebrating Dr Alex George's 'Post The Pill' campaign to break down antidepressant stigma 
• The huge value of therapy and her experience of talking therapy and CBT therapy 
• The importance of being curious about yourself  - why you act and think the way you do - to help yourself grow and face situations better mentally equipped - as well as understanding how others act and think the way they do
• The immeasurable damage of stigma & shame - as a doctor and beyond
• The huge benefits of growing from adversity - including the ability to better connect and empathise as doctors with our patients
• The need to accept that life isn't perfect..and that's okay!
• The mental health 'must haves' in her personal routine
  
  ...& so much more!

During the show, Dr Stephanie recommended the following that helped her:

• 'Attached' book by Dr Amir Levine
• 'When Things Fall Apart' book by Pema Chodron
• 'Lost Connections' book by Johann Hari
• Brene Brown Ted Talk on 'The Power of Vulnerability'

Team YOD feel so privileged, educated and enriched by this conversation and we know you all will too. Thank you Dr Stephanie. We are proud  to call you our YOD Ambassador! 

This podcast was:

• Hosted by YOD CEO, Dr Daniel Gearon and YOD Chief Psychotherapist, Chris Cherry
• Sponsored by #FirstRespondersFirst, an initiative of Thrive Global, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the CAA Foundation.  We are proud to partner with them to support doctors globally.
  
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  If you like what you hear, please do give us a rating to help us reach as many people as possible.
  
  It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views are of those in this discussion in its own context at that time of the recording. You Okay, Doc? is a charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of doctors.  Throughout our podcasts, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that at times some may find upsetting, if you find yourself affected by these please seek professional help.
  
  As a charity, we need your help to keep going and develop to support and raise awareness of mental health for Doctors.  Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page to find out more and stay up to date with us.  If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting.  To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70331,  or to donate £5 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.  Thank you for listening and we look forward to creating more content.   See you on the next YOD pod.

Brand new YODPOD episode with Prof. Shekhar Saxena: former WHO Mental Health Director & YOD Patron! 

Being one of the world's leading voices on mental health and a change-maker for medic mental health in the USA and beyond, we delve into what needs to be challenged across existing beliefs, attitudes and systems to improve the mental health of medical workers with Prof. Saxena. 

We explore: 

• Challenging the belief that a healthcare worker’s job should be all encompassing, and if it isn’t then we have failed 
• The next generation’s attitude of seeing healthcare as a job rather than a ‘calling’ resulting in healthier work/life boundaries
• Exploring whether having a more personal and intimate connection to your job, like relationships, is the reason for experiencing higher feelings of guilt, judgement and criticism 
• The need to shift the view of the responsibility of looking after our healthcare workers’ mental health from the individual to the organisation
• The increased hostility of the public towards medics because of organisational limitations / failures – and the resentment that causes
• Professor Shekhar’s global view of healthcare workers’ mental health and the countries which are performing best and worst, including why USA appears to be progressing faster than Europe
• An assessment of medic mental health solutions – including tech, community and education on talking about death  
• The importance of community – and how proud we are of the YOD community which support and empower each other 
• The incredible work of #FirstRespondersFirst, which Prof. Shekhar is a leader of, their change-making partnership with YOD -  and the new ‘All In’ campaign.

….and much more! 

Prof. Saxena is former WHO Mental Health Director, current Professor of Global Mental Health at the Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health, #FirstRespondersFirst leda and much more. 

This episode was hosted by:

• Dr Daniel Gearon, CEO & Founder of YOD
•  Chris Cherry, YOD Trustee & UKCP Psychotherapist 

..and sponsored by:

#FirstRespondersFirst, an initiative of Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global and the CAA Foundation- who we are privileged to partner with to support doctors' mental health globally. 

Don't forget, you can:

• Huddle with YOD every Wednesday - a free virtual psychotherapist-led peer support group for doctors 
• Text YOD to 85258 for 24/7 confidential text support 

...................................

If you like what you hear, please do give us a rating to help us reach as many people as possible.

Please note that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views are of those in this discussion in its own context at that time of the recording. You Okay, Doc? is a charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of doctors.  Throughout our podcasts, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that at times some may find upsetting, if you find yourself affected by these please seek professional help.

As a charity, we need your help to keep going and develop to support and raise awareness of mental health for Doctors.  Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page to find out more and stay up to date with us.  If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting.  To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70331,  or to donate £5 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.  Thank you for listening and we look f

In this episode Chris Cherry & Dr Katrina Sheikh are joined by Professor Nick Glozier. Nick is  a consultant psychiatrist specialising in epidemiology, trials and health services research. He has a research interests in public mental health, function, sleep, the workplace, stress, disability and discrimination in our changing psychosocial and technological environments. In thirteen years since arriving in Australia he has been awarded over $60 million in nationally competitive grants as a Chief Investigator, and is a theme leader in the new ARC Life Course Centre of Excellence

This episode covers:

👉 Bullying at work
👉 Presenteeism in the medical profession 
👉 Sick days as a doctor 
👉 Consequences of graduate medical schools on mental health 
👉 The traits of a doctor
👉 Grumpy worker effect 
👉 Decline in Mental ill health and the rise in mental health awareness 
👉 The systemic changes required to support doctors mental health 
👉 NGO's focus - what's your sphere of influence? 
 

...................................

If you like what you hear, please do give us a rating to help us reach as many people as possible.

It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views are of those in this discussion in its own context at that time of the recording. You Okay, Doc? is a charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of doctors.  Throughout our podcasts, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that at times some may find upsetting, if you find yourself affected by these please seek professional help.

As a charity, we need your help to keep going and develop to support and raise awareness of mental health for Doctors.  Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page to find out more and stay up to date with us.  If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting.  To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70331,  or to donate £5 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.  Thank you for listening and we look forward to creating more content.   See you on the next YOD pod.

We were privileged to host the inspirational J Corey Feist from all the way over in the USA. In loving memory of his sister-in law, New York doctor, Dr Lorna Breen.

J. Corey Feist is:  

• Founder of the Dr Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation
• Recent CEO of the University of Virginia Physicians Group
• Teacher of the course 'Managing in a Pandemic: The challenge of Covid-19'
• A lawyer and MBA holder 

We explore: 

• The deeply sad story of Dr Lorna Breen, a New York physician, who tragically died by suicide in 2020. She had no prior mental health issues & no history of depression or suicide. 
• Before her death, she spoke strongly about the intense shame and fear of stigma of being unable to cope with workplace pandemic demands, her fear of losing her licence because of getting mental health support & the loss of identity because of this. 
• Out of the sadness, Lorna's sister & husband, our inspirational podcast guest - J. Corey Feist - decided to make a change for other healthcare workers - and founded the Dr Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation. 
• They have made huge progress including creating the 'The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act' which passed the US Senate and the House of Representatives in 2021 which aims to reduce and prevent suicide and mental health problems among healthcare professionals.
• We compare doctors' mental health in the US  &the UK - to take learnings from each other about the practical steps needed to make positive change. 
• Amongst other solutions was a clear passion for peer support to stop institutionalised stigma - noting the difference that each one of us can make to our colleague's wellbeing. 

Both of our organisations were founded on tragedy - from which we have sought to create light for others. 

This podcast was:

• Hosted by YOD CEO & co-founder, Dr Dan Gearon & YOD Psychotherapist, Chris Cherry 
• Sponsored by #FirstRespondersFirst - who we are privileged to partner with to support doctors' mental health globally. 

...................................

If you like what you hear, please do give us a rating to help us reach as many people as possible.

It is worth noting that this is a conversational piece and the opinions and views are of those in this discussion in its own context at that time of the recording. You Okay, Doc? is a charity supporting the mental health and wellbeing of doctors.  Throughout our podcasts, we discuss issues affecting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing that at times some may find upsetting, if you find yourself affected by these please seek professional help.

As a charity, we need your help to keep going and develop to support and raise awareness of mental health for Doctors.  Please check out our website https://youokaydoc.org.uk/ and our Instagram page to find out more and stay up to date with us.  If you would like, you can also text donate to support the You Okay, Doc? charity by texting.  To donate £3 text 'DOCTOR' to 70331,  or to donate £5 text 'DOCTOR' to 70970.  Thank you for listening and we look forward to creating more content.   See you on the next YOD pod.