Burnout and psychological distress continue to be prevalent issues for practising physicians. This programme of research aimed to determine the prevalence of work stress and burnout of Irish hospital doctors, to identify priority interventions to tackle work stress and burnout in this group and to expand our understanding of the psychological experiences of hospital doctors in the aftermath of work-related mental health crises. This programme of research included a national cross-sectional survey of 1,749 hospital doctors, a qualitative, deductive, thematic analysis of 32 hospital doctors of mixed grade from the survey cohort and an in-depth, descriptive phenomenological analysis of the experiences of 6 senior consultant hospital doctors from the survey cohort. Study 1 found that almost one third of hospital doctors were experiencing burnout, 59.7% of respondents had low levels of work life-balance, 81.9% had high levels of work stress with the efforts of work not balanced by the rewards of work, furthermore 29.2% reported insufficient work ability. Study 2 found that adequate staffing levels, statutory leave and adequate cover when on leave are the most urgently needed interventions for tackling work stress and burnout among hospital doctors in Ireland. Findings indicate that doctors do not receive the support they need from their clinical line managers. Study 3 provided a rich description of how senior consultants use reflective processes to come to terms with experiences of mental health crisis. In the aftermath of this major, negative life event doctors engaged in two types of reflection, ‘situational sense-making’ to make sense of their experiences and ‘transformative self-reflection’ which involves reflection in a deeper way on themselves and their lives on a broader scale. The process of coming to terms with mental health crisis was complicated when support from employers was perceived as poor. Findings suggest that hospital doctors in Ireland have higher levels of burnout than their international peers. Primary interventions which work on fundamental, system issues such as shortcomings in staffing, cover and leave should be prioritised to tackle work stress and burnout. Doctors who supervise others need to be resourced with training and time to excel as people managers. Doctors themselves can help by rejecting mental health stigmatisation, embracing compassion and self-care and role modelling healthy habits to their peers and junior colleagues. Reflective processes which contribute to recovery from burnout and mental health crisis should be encouraged and special attention should be paid to the support provided by the employer and supervisors during help seeking, recovery, return to work and beyond, as being poorly supported at this vulnerable time can deepen distress experienced.