The Huddle is a SAFE SPACE for doctors to chat in a private group about things that are not often freely talked-about elsewhere: Do you wonder if you could have handled a case or situation differently? Would you like to talk about what challenges you are facing? The Huddle allows you to share and receive advice and tips from other doctors and chat freely about the effects of being a doctor on your home life and general well-being.
When do Huddles happen?
Huddles are held via Zoom on Wednesdays at 7pm (GMT).
How do I join in?
Just click the link below for the date you would like to attend. You’ll be redirected to register for your free ticket.
Is it free?
Yes. You Okay, Doc? foots the bill through the kind help of our sponsors and generous donations to the charity.
Can I join in anonymously?
Yes, that is absolutely fine; you can mute your screen, and even turn off the camera. Some people prefer this – especially initially – so that they can learn about other peoples’ experiences without feeling too exposed. The first step towards normalising mental health and well-being chats between doctors is to attend. If you want to participate later in the meeting, just unmute!
When you click to register for a ticket, you will be asked to complete some questions regarding what gender you identify as, which ethnic group you most associate with, and a few other monitoring questions. Please rest assured that this information is fully confidential and is only held by You Okay, Doc? for purposes of running aggregated reports at the end of the programme.
Who leads the Huddle Zoom meetings?
The group is led by doctors from the You Okay, Doc? team, and our charity’s highly-experienced psychotherapists. Each psychotherapist is great at helping participants in the Huddles summarise what they are thinking, making astute observations, and providing further support if needed.
What’s it like?
It’s a Zoom chat, so everyone can be unmuted and can speak, if they want. It’s a lot like a Balint group, but with the flexibility to discuss situations both inside and out of your work life. The group is usually full of friendly doctors, and there’s always at least one charity ambassador (a doctor linked to You Okay, Doc?). All the doctors and students going the chats have common ground, being medics. It often feels like a supportive, non-judgemental environment. Best of all, often doctors tell a story thinking they are alone in that experience or their feelings – then realise that quite a few others present feel (or have felt) the same way! We love promoting open discussion and reflection in the Huddles.
How many doctors can join the Huddle each week?
We can have up to 12 doctors and medical students participate in the Wednesday Huddle. If you attend one week, there is NO OBLIGATION to join in again (but you will probably want to!). Whether or not you participate in Huddles, if you feel like you would like to donate any money to help keep these services running for the mental well-being of our hard-working doctors and medical-students, then please click here. Your kind donations are greatly appreciated.
