Psychological and Wellbeing Supports
Practitioner Health Matters Programme
The Practitioner Health Matters Programme provides care and support for Consultants who may be experiencing mental health issues such as stress, anxiety or burnout or who may have a substance misuse problem. It is fully independent and separate from the regulatory bodies and employers.
The IHCA provides funding in support of the Programme to ensure that our members have access to care and support when they need it. The Programmes offers a strictly confidential service to Consultants with a telephone line and email contact point for an expert clinical advice service.
You can access the service directly and in confidence by email to confidential@practitionerhealth.ie or calling 085 760 1274.
MPS Counselling Service
The Medical Protection Society (MPS) offers counselling to its members experiencing work-related stress, or stress that they feel could impact their practice. The counselling service is provided by our Lyra, who offer a personalised and professional service tailored specifically to Consultant requirements and delivered by experienced qualified counsellors. Please see here for further details.
Medical Council CAREHub
CAREhub provides independent mental health support to Consultants who are engaging with the Council’s regulatory processes. For furthe details please see here.
HSE Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
The HSE EAP is a work-based support service for staff, including those under HSE and Section 38 employment, providing a confidential and independent counselling and wellbeing service. Health Service Executive
Key features:
- The service is free and available to all HSE staff.
- Up to six counselling sessions are typically offered initially.
Additional supports include:
- Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) responses (individual and group)
- Workshops on staff wellbeing
- Consultation for managers on staff psychosocial issues
Confidentiality:
Counselling is strictly confidential; no information is shared without written consent, except in cases where serious risk, legal requirement, or child protection concerns arise.
Access / Referral:
You can self-refer by calling 0818 327 327.
Accessing Immediate Support
If you require immediate psychological or emotional support, please contact:
Samaritans: Freephone 116 123 (24 hours a day)
Pieta House: pieta.ie
These independent, confidential services are available to all healthcare professionals.
HSE Mental Health & Wellbeing
The HSE’s “Mental Health” portal offers practical information, self-help tools, and clear guidance on how to find help. It covers topics like stress, sleep, low mood, and difficult life events, plus a directory of supports and advice for when more help is needed.
Discover More
Healthy Workplace / Healthy Ireland @ Work
Healthy Workplace is the national framework and resource hub for workplace health and wellness in Ireland. It provides evidence-based tools, case studies, training guides, and practical resources to embed wellbeing into organisations of all types and sizes.
Discover more