Physician Wellness and Psychiatry – Supporting our Colleagues during the COVID-19 Crisis
mentalhealthsupport@providencecare.ca
We are living in uncertain times. During this unprecedented global health crisis, we anticipate that our physicians will experience increased feelings of stress, anxiety and other mental health issues. Life as we know it – both professional and personal – has been dramatically disrupted and will push our profession from a work situation, which is always demanding and stressful, to one which now includes personal peril.
The Physician Wellness Advisory Committee (led by Dr. Leslie Flynn) and the Department of Psychiatry (led by Dr. Claudio Soares) have worked together with other Department members to establish a COVID-19 Wellness and Psychiatry Response Team whose goal is to provide an urgent response and support– starting with our practicing physicians at KHSC, PCH and local physicians.
A roster of psychiatrists and colleagues from allied health disciplines (psychology, nursing, rehabilitation) has been established to provide assessment and short-term care for colleagues in need. Such support will be offered in many ways - from ensuring that physicians become aware of existing tools and resources to better cope with stress/anxiety to rapidly arranging clinical consultations to be provided by this roster of colleagues.
For inquiries, support and self-referral/booking, please use this secured, confidential email address: mentalhealthsupport@providencecare.ca
Dr. Johanne Roberge will oversee all requests and provide a response within 2-3 days of receipt; clinical assessments will be provided within 7 days of receipt.
At this early stage, we are limiting support/consults to our colleagues/physicians - a group that often experiences stress and is less likely to reach out for help. We hope to be able to extend this support to other healthcare professionals in our community.
We trust you will disseminate this information amongst our colleagues and ensure they learn how to reach out for support during these challenging times.
