Adam Kay Opens Up About The PTSD That Made Him Leave The NHS

Just man up. This is essentially what Adam Kay was told when a traumatic day at work left him with PTSD. In this chat with Fearne, former doctor Adam explains why he made the decision to leave the medical profession, and puts a spotlight on the poor mental health of our NHS workers. Adam talks about how, in his case, the job left him feeling paranoid and overcautious, and how he turned to diary writing to process his emotions. They chat about how we can all chip away at any mental health stigma in both the workplace and at home with loved ones, and offer advice for how to put together your own mental health toolkits for crises of varying severity. A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay is out in paperback 2nd July (published by Orion). CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank conversation about suicide. ABOUT HAPPY PLACE Fearne's HAPPY PLACE is a place to celebrate honesty, authenticity and community. Fearne delves into life, love, loss and everything in-between by chatting to inspiring individuals who have made a change in their own lives or help other people to find different ways of seeing life as she reveals what happiness means to them. Happy Place is a space that is safe for all where difference is celebrated and the extraordinary is discovered. A place to focus on the positives and to help you find the joy every day - big or small. Still haven't subscribed to Fearne Cotton's Happy Place on Youtube? ► https://bit.ly/371zqza ABOUT FEARNE COTTON Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter, mother, broadcaster, writer and founder of Happy Place, a place where Fearne holds difficult but important conversations to encourage self-care and self-appreciation, creating a positive impact on the world, giving everyone a voice and actively listening. CONNECT WITH FEARNE COTTON Instagram:   / fearnecotton   Facebook:   / fearnecotton   Twitter:   / fearnecotton   00:00 – Welcome to Happy Place: Adam Kay 06:01 – Why Adam Became A Doctor 08:05 – Diary Writing As A Coping Mechanism 13:03 – The Traumatic Shift That Changed Everything 17:39 – How PTSD Affected Adam’s Work 18:59 – Loving The NHS While Criticising The System 27:00 – The Hidden Mental Health Crisis In The NHS 31:33 – Why Doctors Need Better Support 39:05 – Losing The Identity Of Being A Doctor 40:20 – What Helped Adam Begin To Recover 45:10 – Mental Health Stigma & Talking To Children 50:59 – Adam’s Mental Health Toolkit & Happy Place