Physician Health & Wellness
Last Updated: November 2, 2023
WELCOME TO THE WELLNESS HUB
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Greater Victoria Peer Support Pilot Program
The Greater Victoria peer support pilot for confidential, short-term, non-clinical emotional support has launched! A recent survey showed that 71% of respondents would have reached out to a peer supporter last year if there had been one. Physicians can now connect with a peer supporter through a confidential referral form.
NEW - THE WORKING MIND HEALTHCARE
The Working Mind (TWM) Healthcare focuses on providing workers in the healthcare industry with the tools to promote mental health in the workplace while also reducing the stigma of mental illness.
This is an adaptation of the program The Working Mind.
Designed by mental health experts in collaboration with healthcare professionals, this training program explores the different aspects of the healthcare industry while focusing on improving participants knowledge of mental health.
The goal of the TWM Healthcare course is to give participants practical knowledge of mental health and mental illness so they can:
- Understand mental health/illness;
- Recognize signs and indicators in themselves and others;
- Reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards people with mental health problems in a healthcare setting;
- Support colleagues with mental health issues;
- Maintain their own mental health and improve their resilience.
Learn more about the training programs HERE!
BCALM: BC Association for Living Mindfully
BCALM offers presentations, workshops, and full courses in mindfulness based stress management. Programs include Mornings of Mindfulness, Drop-In Meditation, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, and more! Click here to view more information.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Skills
The Physician Wellness Group Training offered through the UBC Continuing Professional Development Program. Online 8-week sessions with intake throughout the year. Please visit their website for more information: https://ubccpd.ca/collaborate/portfolios/cbt-skills.
A monthly drop-in with CBT Skills facilitators is offered by the Victoria Division of Family for all Victoria and South Island Divisions members who have completed the CBT for MD course. It occurs on the last Friday of the month at 8am via Zoom. To register please email victoria@victoriadivision.ca and you will be added to the meeting invite.
Physician Health Program launches virtual peer support group for BIPOC doctors
BC doctors who are Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) are invited to register for a new virtual peer support group offered by the Physician Health Program, beginning in 2023.
More information and registration: Sharing your lived experience: New peer support group for BIPOC physicians in BC.
Physician Psychological Safety Webinar Series
Please feel free to watch Dr. Mamta Gautam, MD, MBA, FRCPC, CPDC, CCPE, CPE psychiatrist at the Ottawa Hospital, in a series of five virtual psychological safety webinars aimed at promoting psychological safety in health care teams.
Reaching out to Colleagues in Distress
Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback
Achieving Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
NEW-COURSES/ WORKSHOPS – LIVING THIS MOMENT
At Living This Moment, we offer presentations, workshops and courses for workplace wellness, mindfulness in medicine and mindful parenting. These experiential programs provide education, practice opportunity and a sense of community as we integrate these tools into our lives. Please contact us if you would like to bring an event to your workplace, school, or community. For more information on upcoming courses use this link
MINDFUL MONDAYS ARE BACK!
Take an hour for yourself to slow down, reconnect, and restore. Join physician colleagues and a skillful facilitator for an hour of mindfulness practice. No experience or registration needed – join if you’re interested and available!
All sessions will be held virtually from 8:00 – 9:00pm. South Island members must login to access Zoom meeting details.
For more offerings, please visit the SIDFP events webpage.
Resources:
Podcasts
The Podcast by KevinMD: Why Boundaries Should be Part of Your 2022 Physician Goals
The Making Mama Well Podcast with Dr. Pip Houghton discusses maternal mental health and the "normal hard stuff" that all newly parenting families experience. Making Mama Well exists to make sure no Mama feels alone in her experience. Click here to access podcast episodes.
Listen to the CMA podcast Sound Mind and browse a variety of topics in physician wellness and medical culture, hosted by Psychiatrist and wellness expert, Dr. Caroline Gérin-Lajoie. This Podcast is also available on Spotify.
Apps
HeadSpace - Meditation and mindfulness for any mind, any mood, and any goal. Learn about the benefits of meditation, how to improve your sleep, tips to relieve stress, and many more!
Calm - Choose from a selection of goals to help improve sleep quality, reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and overall self-development.
Mindshift - This app uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety.
Other
Looking for leadership and goal-oriented support from an executive coach that specializes in supporting physicians to improve practice management? Visit cruxcoaching.ca to learn more about coaching services specifically for physicians!
Dr. Sarah Buydens provides counselling for a wide range of topics, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and more. She has substantial experience with physicians, is an associate professor at the UBC School of Medicine, and specializes in physician mental health. You can connect with her services through her Contact Page.
The Anatomic Medicine Foundation provides MSP-covered assessment and treatment sessions for physicians living with daily pain, joint pain, movement restrictions, lingering injury pain, strain injury, or post-operative pain. Appointments can be scheduled during evenings or weekends. A referral is required. Visit their website for more information.
Anxiety Canada provides trusted resources and programs to help individuals better understand and manage their anxiety. Click here to access free toolkits, helpful video clips, podcasts, and more!
Hit pause during your busy day with a new set of mindfulness screensavers/tools created by BC Family Doctors.
Visit the CMA resource centre to read top-priority wellness topics for Physicians, leaders, and educators.
Quick links:
PHYSICIAN HEALTH PROGRAM
The Physician Health Program is available to physicians 24/7. Please click here for more information on how the program can support you!
PHP DROP-IN AND SHARE: COVID-19 PHYSICIAN PEER SUPPORT SESSIONS
Date: Every Wednesday of the month
Time: 12 - 1 pm (PST)
Location: Online/webinar
During this challenging time, physicians are working hard to care for patients, their families and communities. The burden of this responsibility is taking its toll, with increased stress, anxiety, and risk of burnout. Talking to other physicians can help. Join your colleagues, Psychiatrist Dr Jennifer Russel, and PHP’s Roxanne Joyce, to talk about the issues and challenges you’re facing. Sessions will focus on peer support, not psychiatric care.
Click here for more information, or register by emailing peersupport@physicianhealth.com for the Zoom link.
Goals:
Support physician health and work-life balance at the local level, for physicians and their families. Specifically:
- Encourage healthy living in their work and relationships;
- Increase awareness of existing resources and how to access them;
- Supplement said resources as/where/when needed; and
- Collaborate/create 'community' with all physicians.
Key Activities
- Physicians finding physicians
- Work-life balance
- Balint groups
- Involve families in meaningful way
- Support mental health
- Social events with guest speakers
- Collaboration with other local wellness groups
Photos from our past events:
Summer BBQ at Gyro Park with the MSA and VDFP
Dermatology Dine & Learn at the Beach House Restaurant
Laughing Yoga at the Health & Wellness Fair
