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Practitioner health and well-being is an integral component of a safe and respectful workplace.
All that is great about rural practice can also bring personal pressures. Providing a clinically complex and varied scope of practice comes professional challenge. With the adventure of taking up work ‘off the beaten track’ can come distance from extended social support networks. And with the rewards of providing greatly valued services, being highly visible and viewed as a community leader, comes heightened personal responsibility.
ACRRM encourages all members to not lose sight of what they love about their job, and at the same time, to take regular steps to maintain their own mental well-being and general health.
Proactive self-care is good medical practice, as is being mindful of the needs of colleagues. We also ask our members to check on their colleagues and friends who may be under stress.
Some positive steps might be:
- Review your needs and those of your colleagues as part of your daily routine and practice.
- Making sure you know where help is available to you and your colleagues.
- Adopting a healthier lifestyle, ensuring you have daily sun and exercise, and time-out when you need it.
- Strengthening your personal support base, making time for your friendships and support networks, finding a mentor, or planning regular networking opportunities with your peers.
24/7 Wellbeing Support
Members experiencing workplace, training, exam, or other stresses or issues impacting your personal wellbeing can call ACRRM's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free. Call 1800 818 728 to receive immediate and confidential phone counselling support 24/7 in Australia and overseas.
Resources
- TEN (The Essential Network for Health Professionals) have a range of resources on their website.
- The Hon Mark Coulton MP Media Release - Regional Australians encouraged to access mental health support
- The Doctor's Clinic provides links to doctors keen to provide telehealth for other doctors.
- Drs4Drs has been developed by the medical profession for the medical profession. It promotes the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students across Australia and offers an independent, safe, supportive and confidential services.
- The Australian Doctors Health Network includes general information and links to the Doctors’ Health Advisory Service in each state and territory. The DHAS provides advice relating to stress and mental illness, drug and alcohol problems, personal and financial difficulties. It also operates a telephone helpline to provide personal advice to doctors and medical students. Some state Advisory Services also provide health promotion programs and educational information through their website and presentations to interested groups.
- Standford Medicine WellMD - A general health and wellbeing site for doctors with useful resources including a list of anonymous online self-test sites, from altruism to work-life balance.
- Australian Medical Association (NSW) Doctors for Colleagues is a registry of General Practitioners who are happy to take on colleagues as patients.
- Health and Wellbeing of Junior Doctors - Run by junior doctors to negotiate some of the difficulties other junior doctors have faced since graduation.
- Mind Tools - stress management resources to help reduce stress in your environment.
- UCLA Health - Coping with shift work - Overcoming sleep problems caused by a non-traditional work schedule
- Beyond Blue Health Services Program aims to address the prevalence of depression, anxiety and suicide in Australian medical students and doctors.
- Black Dog Institute - Health professional resources assist with diagnosis, treatment and capacity building.
- Lifeline provides a crisis support phone line plus resources including self help tools and fact sheets
Respectful Workplaces Committee
The College’s ‘Respectful Workplaces’ initiative aims to support safe workplaces for all its members, while also reviewing our own internal structures, policies and procedures to foster and uphold a workplace culture where diversity is celebrated and both staff and members are empowered to flourish and reach their full potential.