Laura’s story

How your support helped Laura recover when the impact of stress and trauma left her in serious financial hardship

During her Foundation year, Laura faced serious mental health difficulties, which were made worse by the Covid pandemic. Unable to work or claim any further sick pay, she had just 93p to her name, and was facing eviction from her home. But financial help from the RMBF enabled Laura to support herself, while she accessed treatment and began a phased return to work.

“It was a combination of things,” says Laura, when asked what had caused her difficulties. “I’d had a lot of very traumatic life experiences previously, which I hadn’t fully worked through. That was exacerbated by being in an intensely stressful job – back-to-back stressful jobs, in fact. My main coping mechanisms are being outside and playing team sports. That’s how I let go of energy, reset and attune myself. All of that was wiped out by the Covid lockdown.

“Towards the end of my foundation year, I was working in mental health, and there was a moment where I realised I was really unwell. I was listening to a patient, and rather than empathising with them, in fact I was identifying with them. After that shift – stepping into the patient’s shoes – things just unravelled.”

“For the first six months, it was quite relentless in terms of mental health crises. There was a lot coming from my PTSD: really bad nightmares, sensory perception issues, hallucinations. I was completely losing my sense of self.”
Laura was admitted to hospital several times during that period. She was referred to a specialist tertiary mental health service.

“It was a mixture of group therapy sessions, for two and a half hours a week, plus a one-to-one session, as well as daily contact with my therapist.

“When my paid sick leave ended, I was only six months into this treatment – a third of the way through. Both the GMC and my employer told me that I had to complete the treatment, in order to get better and get back to work – which I understood. But I had no income. How was I supposed to survive, and not end up homeless?

“At that time, I was properly poor. I remember going to the dole office and being asked my profession. Explaining that I was a medical doctor, but couldn’t work – it felt absurd. I think at that point I had 93p in my bank account. And I would still have to wait six weeks for my claim to be processed.

“You don’t expect to train and qualify as a doctor, then suddenly find yourself facing potential eviction and having no place to live.”

That’s when Laura got in touch with the RMBF. We were able to provide financial help to assist with her day-to-day living costs, meaning she could focus on getting better.

“The financial support meant that I could stay in the place that I was living. It meant I could actually finish my treatment and get better. It was an absolute godsend.”

Laura is now making a phased return to work, which is going well, though she is candid about the challenges it has presented.

“For a good six months, I had a sense of impostor syndrome. I’d referred myself to the GMC when I was unwell, so I was going through Fitness to Practise proceedings. That’s really, really difficult, especially when it’s to do with your mental health. It questions your sense of who you are, whether you’re good enough.

“Now, though, I’m a lot more comfortable in myself and my abilities, and owning that I work as a doctor.”

Laura also stresses the importance of doctors reaching out for help, even though it can be difficult.

“Even when I’m well, I hate finances, I find them stressful. When you’re mentally not stable, and you’re just about pulling yourself out of bed, that’s really difficult. But applying for financial help from the RMBF was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

“To be honest, you saved my bacon. Without that financial help, I would have had to either give up my therapy, or give up medicine entirely and find a new career.”

A small plastic heart-shape sits on a background of green grass.

Need support?

If you're a doctor facing hardship due to mental health difficulties, you're not alone. The RMBF may be able to help.

Find out more

Read more stories

A photo of a couple cooking together in a rustic-looking kitchen. They are both facing away from the camera, concentrating on something on the stove. Soft afternoon light comes in from the windows.

Faisal & Tania’s Story

How the RMBF is helping a doctor and his family rebuild, after Covid left him with chronic fatigue.

A dark-skinned woman wearing a loose green top leans against the counter in her modern kitchen. Her hair is up in a tight bun, with an orange scarf wrapped around it. She's holding a coffee cup, and she's smiling - she looks very relaxed and content.

Sadie’s story

How your donations helped to support a GP after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

A young woman sits at a long desk in a library, writing in her notebook - she seems to be concentrating intently. She has white skin and shoulder-length brown hair. She's wearing a blue and white t-shirt and a bead necklace.

Ivy’s story

When Ivy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it disrupted her studies and her finances. Find out how help from the RMBF helped get Ivy back on her feet.