Method: A thematic analysis was conducted of semistructured interviews with 21 doctor-patients and four doctors' health experts.
Results: Doctor-patient participants had experienced a past or family psychiatric history, personal loss or trauma, access to drugs at work, workplace stress or recent patient death or suicide. Many avoided seeking care and were significantly unwell when notified to medical regulators. Regulatory processes caused distress, symptom relapse, suicidality, financial pressures and work difficulties. Doctor-patient participants sought assistance from GPs, doctors' health services, medical defence organisations, recovery groups and benevolent associations.
Discussion: When treating doctor-patients, GPs can consider targeted mental health screening, openly discussing mandatory reporting obligations and accessing advice from their medical defence organisation or local doctors' health service. Trust and clear communication benefits doctor-patients and the wider communities they serve.