I am often asked why I chose to focus my work on doctors’ health and wellbeing. That is not an easy question to answer in a single sentence.

It is driven by a combination of experience, growing unease, and deep concern at how little the realities of the profession are sometimes understood. But more than that, it is fuelled by a profound respect for this beautiful and vital profession—one that is dedicated to caring for and supporting others. Doctors give so much of themselves to care for others, and they deserve the same care, understanding, and support in return.

Reading the recent article that describes doctors as “clinical marshmallows” reminds me exactly why this work is so important.

When I was working as a psychiatrist, I would often dread Friday afternoons. This was when non-medical professionals could come to me and say:
“I don’t dare go into the weekend with this patient. They’re suicidal. They’re threatening self-harm. I’m worried about them.”

And just like that, the responsibility would shift. I was left to come up with a crisis treatment plan, engage the patient, involve their entire support system, and ensure they were safe—while my non-medical colleagues packed up and went home. I would stay, working late into the evening, because that is the responsibility doctors carry. And yes, that is part of our professional duty, but the weight of this responsibility is not always acknowledged. The most dedicated doctors are also most at risk for burnout, moral distress and moral injury.

This is something that is often not fully appreciated. Doctors don’t have the option to say, “This isn’t my problem.” Or “Not now, I’m about to go home and spend time with my family” “Oh well, everyone makes mistakes.” We can’t simply walk away. The responsibility of patient care ultimately falls on our shoulders, no matter how much we work as a team. It’s part of our professional duty, but it’s also an enormous weight to carry.

When talking to non-medical professionals, I was struck by how little this responsibility is acknowledged. I was shocked to hear how dismissively doctors could be spoken about—described as entitled, overpaid, and (therefore) undeserving of support. Even among psychotherapists, psychologists, and counsellors who work with doctors, I sometimes saw a lack of true understanding of what this profession demands. 

It shocked me and this also sparked the will to develop a network of doctors who coach doctors. No one should have to go through this alone, and it’s essential to find someone you trust, that doesn’t judge you, and that you truly connect with. That is why we developed an online directory—to give doctors the opportunity to find the best fit for them, ensuring they receive the support they need from someone who truly understands their world.

Being a doctor is not just a job. It is an unrelenting commitment. The decisions we make hold life-and-death consequences. The weight of that responsibility is not something you can clock in and out of. It follows you home and while traveling. It sits with you at the dinner table. It can wake you up at night.

And yet, unlike most other industries, doctors are expected to work excessive hours, push through exhaustion, and carry the emotional burden of their work without complaint. Every other profession is entitled to working rights—reasonable hours, fair conditions, proper breaks—yet for some reason, doctors seem to be expected to operate under a different set of rules. When did it become acceptable to treat the people who care for others as though they don’t deserve the same care themselves?

Doctors don’t need to be trained to be resilient. They don’t need to be told to “toughen up.” What they need is fair treatment. Safe working conditions. Hours that don’t stretch them to the point of collapse. The same basic rights that every other industry already acknowledges as fundamental.

That’s why I do this work. Because I do understand. I know what it’s like to carry the burden of care. To be exhausted but push through anyway. To be expected to hold it all together while the world assumes you’re fine because you’re a doctor.

No one should have to carry the weight alone. And no one should have to sacrifice their own wellbeing in the name of care.