Doctors in Distress is an independent charity which provides peer support for all healthcare workers to protect their mental health and prevent suicide.
Our charity relies almost entirely on donations to continue our vital work. Please support us.
Text PREVENT to 70460 TO DONATE £5
Doctors In Distress: Our Story
Doctors in Distress was founded in 2019 by Amandip Sidhu following the suicide of his brother Jagdip. Jagdip was a consultant cardiologist. He was overworked, burned out and felt he had nowhere to turn. He believed taking his life was the only answer.
Amandip established the charity so no other healthcare worker would have to experience the same pain as Jagdip.
Healthcare workers are facing immense pressure. A 2024 survey shows that more than a third of staff are suffering from burnout and 34% are emotionally exhausted because of work.
At Doctors in Distress we strongly believe in the power of talking. This is why we have set up our peer support groups – spaces where healthcare workers can access support away from work and speak with other people experiencing the same stresses. Our groups are a place to share, to reflect, to receive advice and to support others.
We are also working with decision makers to ensure that mental health support is prioritised for all healthcare workers. Whilst the stigma around talking about mental health remains, change will be limited. We are working with leaders to facilitate transformational change within the healthcare sector to support staff and reduce the stigma.
Our Programmes
We run a range of free group-based programmes focused on mental health for all healthcare workers. These vary from, drop-in sessions and creative classes, to webinars where a health professional shares their mental health experience.
How you can support us
We desperately need your donations to keep our services running. If you want to donate or set up a fundraiser for us, click the button below.
Doctors in Distress Highlights:
Launch in Northern Ireland
We officially launched our charity’s services in Northern Ireland in April at an event in Belfast. This was followed by the country’s first suicide memorial tree planting ceremony at a GP surgery in Belfast.
Every Minute Of Every Day Appeal Update
In March we received a generous grant from the Wesleyan Foundation for our Every Minute Of Every Day Appeal, meaning we exceeded the target of £50,000. This has meant we can keep our weekly support groups running for a year and offer two new groups per week to support more people.
National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers
On 17th September 2025 Doctors in Distress along with NHS Practitioner Health will be holding the National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers to remember all healthcare workers who have taken their lives. Find out more about last year’s event here.
As Featured in…
