Dr Amir Khan, a beloved regular on ITV's Lorraine, made a candid admission about his mental health during a special episode of Loose Doctors on Thursday, July 2. The segment, which replaced the usual Loose Women, featured Dr Khan alongside Dr Nighat Arif, Dr Zoe Williams, and Dr Hilary Jones. The healthcare experts discussed high-functioning depression and anxiety, with Dr Khan revealing his personal struggles for the first time on television.
Dr Khan's Personal Revelation
Dr Khan explained that for quite a while, he has suffered from social and anticipatory anxiety. He described how upcoming events, whether work meetings or social gatherings, cause him significant distress. He traced the onset of these feelings back several years, noting that it started at work with worries about every patient he saw. To ensure he was performing his duties correctly, he would access his work computer from home to review each patient's records again. He also called colleagues to ask if they would have done the same, and they assured him that they would.
Anxiety Attack and Support
Dr Khan recounted an incident where he left work and saw two other GPs' cars in the car park. He became convinced they were having a meeting about him, though they were simply working late. This triggered a full-blown anxiety attack, forcing him to call his friends for support. During the broadcast, Dr Nighat Arif reached out to him in solidarity, and Dr Hilary Jones remarked that his conscientiousness, thoroughness, and caring nature come at a price, creating stress and anxiety. Dr Khan acknowledged that he has since developed tools to manage his anxiety and expressed gratitude for the support from his colleagues.
Impact and Resources
The episode aimed to reassure viewers that they are not alone in facing mental health challenges. Dr Khan's openness highlights the prevalence of high-functioning depression and anxiety, even among high achievers. Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 at 9.30am, while Loose Doctors is available to stream on ITVX. For those struggling, Samaritans are available 24/7 at 116 123 or samaritans.org.
