Health and wellbeing

Abstract

In these times of change and uncertainty, it has never been more important to be aware of our health and keeping emotionally resilient. Dental professionals are notoriously a difficult to reach group when it comes to individual healthcare and seeking help. COVID-19 has hit dentistry and the dental profession hard, in a way we could never have expected. Everyone has been subject to changes that could not have been contemplated. Each person on the planet has been impacted in one way or another. Maybe because we have all been subject to anxiety, uncertainty and facing the unknown, it has become easier to talk to colleagues about how we are feeling and acknowledge that it's OK to not be OK. How to enhance your resilience to cope with professional and personal challenges.

The role and value of coach mentoring dentists in difficulty

“…DiDs are normally unaware of how to move forwards once the GDC has summoned them to a FtP and they seek what help is available 10,11,13,[18][19][20]22,24,25,26,28,29,30,31,32 . It has been reported that dentists find themselves in circumstances that lead to misguided decisions and like "The Swiss cheese model" they fall through the holes 12,15,17 .…”

“…culture, patient factors and poor work-life balance) 10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18,19,22,24,25,26,34,35,36,37 . This is reported as highly emotional with associated mental health issues 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,12,13,16,17,18,22,28,29,35 .…”

“…Coach mentoring has been recommended by the regulator so the DiDs can continue to be registered as a dentist 6,810,11,12,13,17,18,24,25,26,29,36,37,38 . It has been reported that they may need to be signposted to gain additional help and support from a CM 10,11,12,13,15,18,22,23,24,25,26,29,30,31,35,36,37,38 . The crux of a CM's role and their value is to guide the DiD to accept that there may be other ways of thinking 10,13,15,[24][25][26]28,30,32,36,37,38 .…”

“…GDC standards reflections, which they have to self-fund, and the process has recently undergone changes 9,22,39,40,41,42 . Coach mentoring has been recommended by the regulator so the DiDs can continue to be registered as a dentist 6,810,11,12,13,17,18,24,25,26,29,36,37,38 . It has been reported that they may need to be signposted to gain additional help and support from a CM 10,11,12,13,15,18,22,23,24,25,26,29,30,31,35,36,37,38 .…”

“…The crux of a CM's role and their value is to guide the DiD to accept that there may be other ways of thinking 10,13,15,[24][25][26]28,30,32,36,37,38 . The DiD needs to be honest with themselves about how a significant event may have affected them, as an individual both personally and professionally 10,11,12,13,18,22,24,25,26,28,29,30,33,37,38 .…”