Mental Health
The importance of connectedness to our wellbeing
Strong social connections are important for both physical and mental health. As healthcare professionals, colleagues can often understand the challenges we face and may be going through the same experiences themselves. Staying connected with peers can be a powerful resource for practical assistance and emotional support.
Create lasting change without a New Year’s resolution
It’s important to remember that personal goals can be determined at any time of the year, not just in January. Taking time to forward plan achievable and realistic targets can help to deliver better results than making a commitment when we are caught up in the emotions following New Year celebrations.
Understanding and coping with the Christmas blues
The festive season can bring mixed emotions, particularly for those working through the holidays on the frontline. It can be helpful to set aside some time to think about how you can best focus on looking after yourself and your wellbeing during this busy time of year.
Communications and Advocacy update: 15 December
Here’s an update on a few of the issues AMA Victoria is working on for members, including resumption of elective surgery; impact of public-in-private work; escalating violence against healthcare workers; marginalisation of the medical model in mental health reform; and lack of direction provided by the State Government to private medical practitioners.
AMAV’s Peer Support Service: A listening ear and support from a colleague for all doctors and medical students
AMA Victoria’s Peer Support service is about doctors supporting doctors and the understanding that only a medical colleague can provide.
Thriving as a doctor in a life beyond burnout
Many of the measures to thrive as a doctor are similar to the steps for recovering from burnout. Given the many stresses that doctors face, it is worth revisiting these steps on a regular basis.
Practising gratitude as a tool for self-care
Gratitude is not about putting on a brave face or pretending that everything is okay when it is not. Instead, the strength we gain from practising gratitude can help us tap into our reserves of perseverance and energy to make it through challenging times.
Communications and Advocacy update: 11 November
Here’s an update on a few of the issues AMA Victoria is working on for members, including an update on support for surgeons in private practice, seeking GPs to participate in VEC focus group about voters with dementia, and a mental health workforce personnel survey.
Recovery from stress and burnout as a doctor
What do you need to recover and heal after repeated exposure to a stressful environment like COVID-19? Self-compassion is the first step in applying interventions for burnout prevention and recovery.