This week is mental health awareness week organised by The Mental Health Foundation to raise public and professional awareness, this year’s theme is ‘loneliness’. We all know that being able to talk about mental health doesn’t just come at a certain time of the year but this week we would like to encourage you to talk more and acknowledge how you are feeling.
For some dental practitioners, the nature of their work, a new position, a busy workplace with little time to engage with peers, or changes in their personal life can each contribute to feelings of loneliness or isolation. As you know working in the dental profession can come with a significant amount of stress. Everyday stresses come from interactions with patients, co-workers, dental insurance challenges and of course COVID- 19
Dental nurses are the most highly rated members of a dental team. But did you know the profession risks losing more than one third of them in the next two years! This is according to new figures published from a recent Dentist Census.
Here are a few ways to can deal with loneliness if it creeps up:
· Acknowledge your feelings
· Schedule a weekly out-of-clinic activity with your team
· Practise self-care
· Join a community of like-minded dentists
Click on the link to download a Wellbeing guide to support you and your dental team.