This page provides GPs with information and resources on strategies for self-care as an essential element of professional life.
Taking action to enhance self-care in the following areas may assist you to protect yourself, your family and your patients from the demands and stresses of medical practice:
Maintain an effective support network
Professional support, whether clinical supervision or peer support within a group, is recognised in many specialties and many countries as being the single most important means by which medical practitioners can maintain balance and health in their lives. Personal support mechanisms such as family, staff and friends are also very important.
Consult your own general practitioner
Find a General Practitioner who is not a member of your family or practice to provide you with independent professional medical advice. Develop a relationship with your GP before you need them and learn how to be a patient as well as a doctor. Examine your own practices in relation to self-diagnosis and self-prescribing and develop boundaries which suit and safeguard your health.
Strengthen management skills
Paperwork, bureaucracy and time pressures are significant stressors in many doctors' lives. While many administrative aspects of medical practice cannot be avoided at an individual level, investment in managerial and administrative skills may lessen some of the pressure from these activities.
Counselling Services
Are you feeling stressed…..anxious…depressed…..or just in need of a sympathetic listener? The Rural Medical Family Network (RMFN) offers a telephone counselling service. Carol Reid is available for a chat any time of the day for no more than the cost of a local call. Ring Carol on 1800 218 176 for a confidential session sponsored by RMFN.
The ‘Colleague of First Contact’ is a 24 hour service for confidential advice and help for doctors. Telephone: (08) 9321 3098
Peer Support Groups
If there are any doctors within GP down south who are interested in establishing a Peer Support Group, please contact Amanda Poller on 9754 3662 or email mailto:amandap@gpdownsouth.com.au
What do you suggest?
If you have any ideas or suggestions about how GP down south could support GPs to address and maintain their health and wellbeing, please advise Amanda Poller on 9754 3662 or email amandap@gpdownsouth.com.au or your GP Support Coordinator.
Links to useful websites
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners www.racgp.org.au
The RACGP has produced a helpful resource: Clode D, Boldero J (2005) Keeping the doctor alive: www.racgp.org.au/peersupport A self-care guidebook for medical practitioners, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, South Melbourne.
Rural Health West www.ruralhealthwest.com.au
The Rural Medical Family Network WA is funded via Rural Health West by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and aims to provide support to WA’s rural General Practitioners and their families.
Australian Medical Association (AMA) www.ama.com.au
The Australian Medical Association has established a Doctors Health Database which can be viewed at: www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/tag/doctors-health-database
Doctors’ Health Advisory Service www.doctorshealth.org.au
Medical Journal of Australia www.mja.com.au
The October 4th 2004 issue of the MJA was devoted entirely to issues concerning doctors’ health and wellbeing. All articles are available at the following link: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/181_07_041004/contents_041004.html
Medical Board of Western Australia. The Medical Board of WA has a Mentoring Program, the details of which can be seen at http://www.medicalboard.com.au/pdfs/Mentoring.pdf