Even doctors need a little extra help at times, please don’t hesitate to contact us at TMSS if you are struggling.
Below are some resources for doctors including helplines and information regarding services:
Employee Assistance Program
All employees can call the Employee Assistance Program for free, confidential counselling. This service is provided by OPTUM.
Call: 1800 604 640
Doctors’ Health Services
Doctors’ Health Services co-ordinates the delivery of health advisory and referral services for doctors and medical students across Australia.
Doctors’ Mental Health Program
Doctors Health Advisory Service Queensland
An organisation established by the Doctors’ Health Advisory Service (Qld). Allow doctors to talk to a fellow practitioner, who understands the stresses of being a doctor or medical student, confidentially and anonymously. Staffed by volunteer senior doctors with experience in Doctors’ Health.
24hr helpline Call 07 3833 4352
Are you ok?
A website to promote the health and wellbeing of junior doctors. A comprehensive resource developed by the profession in New South Wales. This resource includes self assessment tools, vignettes, and ideas to help reduce stress.
Beyond Blue Doctors’ Mental Health Program
Latest research and programs addressing the mental health of doctors
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/about-us/about-our-work/workplace-mental-health/about-the-doctors-mental-health-program
R-Cubed
R-Cubed provides GP Registrars, Medical Students and Pre-Vocational Doctors with real strategies to build resilence in busy times. It is an initiative set up by General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA)
AMSA Keeping Your Grass Greener
The Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) is the peak body representing the interests of medical students. They have produced an expansive collection of resources to help medical students keep their grass greener
http://mentalhealth.amsa.org.au/keeping-your-grass-greener/
Keeping the Doctor Alive
Self care guide book for medical practitioners developed by RACGP
https://www.ranzcp.org/Files/Branches/Victoria/Keeping_the_Doctor_Alive-pdf.aspx
An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: a health and wellbeing guide for junior medical officers
http://www.pmct.org.au/images/HealthWellbeingGuideJMOs_Jan2016.pdf
The Basics: Strategies for coping with stress and building personal resilience for physicians
http://php.oma.org/PDF%20files/The%20Basics/TheBasics-full%20version.pdf
The medical defence organisations have produced a series of resources related to doctors’ health and well-being that are freely accessible.
Talking to a Colleague
RUOK
R U OK has developed a set of resources to help people become conversation ready and to ask their friends, family and co-workers “R U OK”
The Black Dog Institute
The Black Dog Institute has prepared a set of resources on what to do if you’re worried about the mental health of a family member or close friend and how to help them. Black Dog Institute: Helping someone else: what to do if you are worried about a family member or close friend.
https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/getting-help
Beyondblue
Beyondblue has developed a page that provides resources on how to have a conversation with a co-worker that you’re concerned about. Speaking openly reduces stigma and encourages people to seek support.
https://www.headsup.org.au/supporting-others/starting-a-conversation
Preventing Physician Distress and Suicide
https://www.stepsforward.org/modules/preventing-physician-suicide#section-introduction
Other Useful Sites
AHPRA Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications
http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Guidelines-for-mandatory-notifications.aspx
AMA Queensland
AMA Queensland, as the peak medical body in Queensland, advocates on behalf of you. A team of workplace relations advisers are available between 8:30-5:00PM Monday-Friday
AMA Fatigue Assessment Tool
National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students 2013
Healthy Sleep
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/
UCLA Overcoming sleep problems caused by a non-traditional work schedule
http://sleepcenter.ucla.edu/coping-with-shift-work
Articles
https://www.amansw.com.au/picking-up-the-pieces/
https://www.doctorportal.com.au/mjainsight/2017/31/the-resilience-myth-in-medicine/