Anaesthetists: Improving their mental health and wellbeing
Long Lives, Healthy Workplaces
Anaesthetists face a number of unique challenges and stressors as part of their work, which can result in poor health – both physical and mental. The Long Lives, Healthy Workplaces toolkit provides anaesthetic departments with an operational resource that will assist them to plan and deliver actions to: better support mental health and wellbeing of anaesthetists and anaesthetic trainees; reduce the risk of mental health concerns and suicide; and increase the capacity of leaders, peers and individuals to respond.
Long Lives, Healthy Workplaces is an initiative of the Welfare of Anaesthetists special interest group (SIG), developed by Everymind with support from the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) and additional funding leveraged under The Prevention Hub.
The project’s long-term goal is to support good mental health, which is not only important for anaesthetists but also for the quality and safety of care provided for patients and families.
The development of this toolkit was guided by a national steering committee, chaired by Dr Tracey Tay (Specialist Anaesthetist and Director, Perioperative Service at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle); Dr Prani Shrivastava (Specialist Anaesthetist in WA); Dr Suzi Nou (Specialist Anaesthetist, VIC); Dr Jane McDonald (Specialist Anaesthetist, NSW); Dr Greg Downey (Specialist Anaesthetist, NSW); Dr Shirley Prager (Psychiatrist, VIC); Dr Marion Andrew (Specialist Anaesthetist,WA); Dr Jaelea Skehan (Director, Everymind); and Dr Sally Fitzpatrick (Project Lead, Everymind).
If you would like to find out more about the project, please email Dr Sally Fitzpatrick.
