For more wellness related resources please go to:
Mental health and psychological support (SJH) SJH Support
May 7, 2020
Peer Support: Get a Buddy!
This is Mental Health Awareness Week but we are running a marathon in the COVID era. We need ways to sustain our mental and emotional well-being over a long term. One of the ways is to get a “running buddy”. The buddy system of peer support involves identifying one or two people that you can check in with regularly to support each other and identify when further help is needed.
Ted Bober of the OMA Physician Health Program talks about the buddy system in the April CAS Townhall on Physician Wellness
May 13, 2020
Managing stress, fear and anxiety
Helpful insights and practical tips from the Canadian Psychological Association: “Emotional and Psychological Challenges Faced by Frontline Health Care Providers During the COVID 19 Pandemic": Psychology Works
Great video with practical tips for managing fear and stress, and maintaining performance during the crisis featuring;
High performance psychologist Dr. Jason Brooks
Wellness Resource Bulletin #3
May 20, 2020
Strengthening Your Resilience
“Ensuring our own wellbeing as we care for others during the COVID 19 Crisis.”
Strengthening your resilience through the 5 C’s: Control, Commitment, Connections, Calming, Care for Self by Dr. Mamta Gautam
See: COVID-19 Bulletin#1
Psychological First Aid for Frontline Health Care Providers A QUICK GUIDE TO WELLNESS
This is a great practical workbook for enhancing your wellness and resilience, written in a user friendly way by clinical psychologist, Dr. Melanie Joanisse. The workbook discusses a variety of evidence-based approaches that you can chose based on your preferences. It offers quick and effective tips and strategies for increasing personal and relational well-being during these challenging times. Thanks to Dr. Desi Reddy for passing this helpful resource along!
See: Psychological First Aid for Frontline Health Care Providers During COVID-19
Wellness Resource Bulletin #4
May 27, 2020
Strengthening Your Resilience
Recognizing a Colleague in Distress
“Responding to the needs of Distressed Physicians” Powerpoint presentation by Dr. Michael Kaufmann
“The key to recognition is knowing the performance baseline from which a person normally functions”
Dr. Kaufmann walks through the “early, late and end stage signs” and offers concrete suggestions on how to help a colleague in distress.
Canadian Medical Protective Association Podcast
Mentorship is a relationship in which a person, with more knowledge or experience in a certain area, uses these skills to help guide another. Research has clearly shown the benefits of mentorship for faculty at any stage of their career to navigate and achieve their academic, professional and personal goals. As a part of faculty resources and wellness supports in the Department of Anesthesia, we have created a repository of faculty members who are willing to share their experience and knowledge in areas such as clinical work, research, career transitions, personal and professional challenges, advancement and leadership.
The purpose of this repository is to provide the names and profiles of available peer faculty mentors for those faculty who are seeking guidance and advice in their areas of interest. This is conceptualized as an informal peer mentorship relationship where the prospective mentee contacts the mentor and they would come to a mutual agreement on their roles and meeting times. The mentor agrees to be available by email, telephone, or in person as needed by the mentee. There is no expectation of long-term relationships or significant time commitments through this program by either the mentor or mentee. The main objective of this relationship is for the mentee to obtain guidance as needed from a peer mentor who is interested in helping the mentee achieve their goals.
Find contacts here for Mentorship