Supporting neurodivergent doctors to thrive at work

Mirroring the general population, the number of medical students, doctors and, indeed, psychiatrists disclosing being neurodivergent is rising. These individuals commonly have a variety of strengths that can enhance their work, but these strengths may go unrecognised. All too often such individuals have been labelled ‘doctors in difficulty’. We begin this article with a review of contemporary thinking regarding neurodiversity, before considering specific issues facing neurodivergent doctors, specifically psychiatrists. We explore neurodivergent strengths and the evidence regarding career outcomes and mental health. We discuss the stigma that many neurodivergent psychiatrists face in the medical sphere and how difficulties may be reframed as unmet needs. We highlight initiatives that aim to change workplace culture, before discussing the concept of reasonable adjustments, alongside a wide range of practical suggestions of adjustments to consider, using the Autistic SPACE framework and the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ reasonable adjustments guidance. Finally, we consider how those in senior leadership roles can contribute to this field and provide role modelling and signposting to further information and support for neurodivergent doctors and their supervisors and line managers.<p></p>