Why I’m a Dr4Drs – Dr Annette Barratt

Dr Annette Barratt has worked as a GP in Tasmania for more than 40 years, is state Vice President of Tasmania AMA, and former state Chair of the RACGP. Below is an edited extract of the talk she gave to AMA staff about her role with Drs4Drs.

“My motivation for taking on this role was multi-factorial – I have treated many colleagues and medical students over my years as a GP and have frequently offered a sympathetic ear to friends and family in crisis, and I personally have had wonderful GPs who were there for me during my own crises, both physical and mental.

“I offered my services to be part of the Tasmanian team when Victoria held our funding, but that team never got off the ground for a variety of reasons, so when the funding was transferred to Tasmanian management and I was approached to be the Medical Director, I agreed. It has been a steep learning curve, and I would not have been able to do anywhere as much as we have achieved without the support of the team at AMA Tasmania who all put it many more hours than the funding covers.

“I could go and on about what we do but I think that it is important to talk about why. Why do doctors and students reach out for help? The reasons are as diverse as the personalities who enter medicine. For students it can be as simple as being a long way from home and wanting someone to talk to who is anonymous and won’t affect their standing at medical school, or it can be a student is facing bullying or abuse and doesn’t know who to turn to and everything in between.

“For young doctors it can be the pressures of residency or trying to juggle study and family life, or the need to find a GP who will be sympathetic to their need to take time out to sort out their future direction.

“At any stage of life, it can be the need to find a doctor for physical illness that prompts the call. Doctors can be poor carers of their own health, and an unexpected illness can leave them floundering.”

“Workplace stress is a frequent cause of calls at all stages of life, and burnout is unfortunately very prevalent.”

“Our goal is to prevent ill health, physical and mental amongst the medical profession, and prevent the all-too-common suicides that occur.”

From Drs4Drs:

Remember that Drs4Drs is here for you as a doctor and medical student as well as your partner/spouse. Each State and Territory offers its own independent, free, and confidential health advisory service, staffed with doctors trained in doctors’ health.

In order to talk to a counsellor or psychologist, Drs4Drs also provides a confidential mental health support service, 1300 Dr4Drs (1300 374 377), for crisis and non-urgent mental health support.

To access services and resources, visit www.drs4drs.com.au/getting-help/.