Mental wellbeing in radiography

In my role as a practice educator, and being on the ground, working clinically with students, I know first hand of the pressures they find themselves under everyday and I was sure this could be an event which would equip them for their time on placement. I strongly encourage other higher education institutions to get in touch with either myself or Brian Daniels from Pluto Productions so that we can help guide you on hosting a play. 

Plenty of work went into the administration, publicity, and communication with the marketing team and BBC East Midlands. More awareness is still needed about radiography in the mainstream media, as you will see in the video (our students are still being called ‘medical students’), however, this is a great starting point to highlight the important work we do as allied health professionals.

Two of our students, Amy Evans and Lucy McGregor, were interviewed by the BBC on their experiences as radiography students in the NHS, and the impact the play had on their learning. Here, they give their reflections.

The roles and attributes of the healthcare professions are often romanticised, with professionals being portrayed as noble and heroic, write Amy Evans and Lucy McGregor. 

While this is true, behind the scenes our healthcare professionals face countless challenges and immense pressures daily, with the majority of these challenges having been heightened through the pandemic.

Beneath the White Coat portrayed the struggles and pressures faced by various healthcare professionals and brought conversations about mental health to the forefront. The handling of stress and trauma as well as alcohol dependency are explored throughout the play and, as members of the audience, you easily reflect on your own experiences as well as recognising the sacrifices and dedication that is demanded in the healthcare field.

Amy Evans

Third year student, University of Derby

As students, a lot of our learning is conducted on clinical placement in hospitals, where we experience first-hand scenarios and have to adapt to each situation as it comes. This is especially prominent in diagnostic radiography students who are continuously changing the modality, department and team they are working with on a weekly basis, entering and adapting to new and daunting environments throughout our time as students.

Although there are discussions about the types of scenarios you may see on placement, the effects that they truly have on you can only be experienced first-hand. In most cases, no amount of preparation can truly prepare you for how you are going to feel in that moment, and it is easy to fall into a habit of becoming accustomed to the things you see and downplaying your emotions. 

You can also be overwhelmed very quickly, creating a need for plays like this to be shown to students to help support them in their emotional education - alongside modules within the university curriculum such as the Developing Professional Practice module that we take every year. 

The message that the play discusses is important for all healthcare professions and, by providing a platform to speak on the struggles that we face, there is an avenue to further explore these feelings and encourage others to speak up if they are in need.

Lucy McGregor

Third year student, University of Derby

The play really aids the understanding of the pressures of working in healthcare and highlights the importance of looking after our own and our colleague’s mental health to better ourselves and the care we provide. Also, while introducing issues that other healthcare disciplines may be facing, the play helps to create a compassionate understanding which will improve working conditions within the healthcare setting. 

From a student perspective, the portrayal of the struggles and pressures faced by healthcare professionals offers a captivating and eye-opening experience. The play captures the immense responsibilities and dilemmas they encounter on a daily basis, making you, as an audience member, aware of the weight they carry on their shoulders. Throughout, we witness the emotional toll, the sacrifices, and the relentless dedication required to provide quality care to patients. 

By facing the issues raised early in our careers within the safe, controlled environment of the university, it allows us as students to develop strategies which we can use in practice when facing similar issues in real life. 

The play resonates deeply with us as aspiring healthcare professionals, serving as a reminder of the immense challenges we may face in our future careers, and helping to create an understanding and resilient workforce within the continuously evolving healthcare setting.