Resources for dealing with burnout: for people in the medical, nursing, and veterinary fields.

Listed here are some of the available online resources specific to your profession. 

Medicine/Nursing

Doctors’ Health Advisory Service New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory: 02 9437 6552 

Doctors’ Health Advisory Service Western Australia: 08 9321 3098 

Doctors’ Health South Australia (also covers Northern Territory): 08 8366 0250 

Doctors’ Health Queensland: 07 3833 4352 

Victorian Doctors’ Health Program (also covers Tasmania): 03 9280 8712 (Victoria) 1800 991 997 (Tasmania) 

AMA Victoria – Recovery from Stress and Burnout as a Doctor

https://amavic.com.au/news—resources/stethoscope/recovery-from-stress-and-burnout-as-a-doctor

Nurse & Midwife Support

https://www.nmsupport.org.au/workplace/burnout#:~:text=Causes%20of%20burnout%20particular%20to,low%20pay%20scales

Unidex Healthcare – 6 Tips for Healthcare Workers Recovering from Burnout

https://unidexhealthcare.com.au/articles/6-tips-for-healthcare-workers-recovering-from-burnout/

Veterinary Science

Independent Vets of Australia: Burnout in Veterinary Staff – Prevention and Recovery

https://independentvetsofaustralia.com.au/burnout-in-veterinary-staff-prevention-and-recovery/

VetX Internatonal – How to Bounce Back from Burnout in Veterinary Medicine

https://www.vetxinternational.com/how-to-bounce-back-from-burnout-in-veterinary-medicine/

The Australian Veterinary Association – resources and support for veterinarians  including 24-hour counselling service, graduate mentoring program, and Mental Health First Aid training. AVA website 

The Mind Matters Initiative (MMI)

https://www.vetmindmatters.org/help-links/

Coping with stress and burnout as a veterinarian by Dr Nadine Hamilton – offers an overview of several evidence-based positive coping strategies. There is also a modualised program which addresses suggestions for enhanced time and stress management, communication and assertiveness, goal setting and relaxation strategies, and techniques from evidence-based work in the areas of positive psychology and acceptance and commitment therapy. This is a potentially useful resource if this is your early attempt to commit to a more holistic approach to better wellbeing and coping.

Health and Caring Professionals

Black Dog Institute Resources for Health Professionals https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/resources-support/coronavirus-resources-for-anxiety-stress/coronavirus-resources-for-health-professionals/

HeadsUp – For Health Services: Promoting the mental health of health services staff

https://www.headsup.org.au/healthy-workplaces/information-for-health-services

Australian Government Department of Mental Health – Mental Health for the Health Workforce

https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-the-health-and-aged-care-sector/mental-health-for-the-health-workforce-during-covid-19

Beyond Blue has developed a free six-week program, NewAccess for Small Business, that offers support by trained mental health coaches who have a background in small business. Click here to register.

The man who mistook his job for his life by Naomi Shragai – includes contemporary references; some do’s and dont’s eg dealing with narcissists at work, insights into how our maladaptive behaviours at work are often hang-over defensive reactions to our past – we interpret the now through the filter of then.

Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg – change your environment and take baby steps.

Rebekah Doley BA(Hons) GradDipPsyPrac MSc(Inv Psy) MJur(Law) MPsy(Clin)/ PhD
Clinical & Forensic Psychologist
Registered Psychologist (AHPRA) | Chartered Psychologist (BPS) | Mediator