Doctors’ Health Advisory Service (DHASWA)
DHASWA provides a confidential, anonymous 24/7 advice line and referral system for doctors and medical students seeking assistance with health or personal problems. DHASWA can be utilised by individuals, or by a concerned family member, friend, colleague or staff member. Calls are taken by a panel of experienced male and female GPs, with a psychiatrist advisor available. Callers will receive a response from a DHASWA Doctor within 4 hours of a call.
Calls are exempt from the mandatory reporting requirements of the Medical Board of Australia.
Problems dealt with include stress, depression, suicidal thought, substance use disorders, grief or concerns about illness. Sometimes the contact can be about impaired performance in a colleague. The panel GPs usually discuss the options available to callers when they are faced with a dilemma, or advise the caller on the most appropriate referral services. Available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
- DHASWA Advice Line
Confidential, anonymous 24/7 advice and referral service for doctors and medical students seeking support with personal or health concerns. Calls are exempt from mandatory reporting requirements.
- Personal GP Support
It is recommended all medical students and Doctors have their own GP. If you do not know any GPs then it may be helpful to ask family or friends for a recommendation. If you are new to a suburb then the local pharmacist will know who the GPs in the area are. If you are having difficulty finding a GP or have special health needs then you can ring DHASWA for a recommendation.
The DHASWA website contains a list of GPs , Clinical Psychologists with an interest in Doctors health who are willing to prioritise appointments for Doctors and medical Students.
- DRS4DRS National
A national not for profit organisation dedicated to improving Doctors health. Provides a comprehensive website and a Confidential Telehealth Service for Doctors and medical students.
Confidential Telehealth Service 24/7: 1300 374 377
Website: https://www.drs4drs.com.au/
- Hospital Internal Services
Most hospitals and health services have a range of resources to help support their medical staff who are feeling stressed or have physical or mental health problems. Contact your hospital’s Medical Education unit for details. Their staff are also available if you want to have a confidential chat about a range of issues, both professional and personal (this is available to junior and senior doctors). Doctors may also contact their Occupational Health department for assistance.
Most health services also offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to their employees. The EAP is intended to help you deal with personal or work-related problems that might be having a negative effect on your health, well-being or work performance. WA health service employees may access five sessions with an external counsellor for free. This professional, independent and confidential service is available 24/7. The employing organisation is not informed of who uses the program. For WA Country Health Service (WACHS) employees see the WACHS website for details of your site EAP provider.
- Junior Doctor Websites
JMO Health is a website developed by the Doctors’ Health Advisory Service of NSW to promote the health and wellbeing of junior doctors and contains many useful resources including self-assessment tools and tips to reduce stress.
The Postgraduate Medical Council of WA (PMCWA) has produced some support guides for junior doctors that are available on their website.
JMO Health
Website: http://www.dhas.org.au/resources/resources-for-junior-medical-officers.html
PMCWA
- Employee Assistance Programs for metropolitan WA health service employees
PeopleSense can arrange for you to see a psychologist face to face at a convenient location near you. if you can’t make it to an office, the session can be held via telephone or internet video. Managers and employees can either encourage use of the service or contact Peoplesense directly to discuss a referral if they are concerned about a colleague.
You can access EAP counselling and wellbeing services by calling PeopleSense on:
Phone: 1300 307 912 or 08 9388 9000
Book online at: www.peoplesense.com.au
Doctors & Medical Professionals
Supporting doctors and medical students throughout their careers with profession-specific wellbeing services, peer support, training resources, and assistance programs.
Specialist Colleges
Most specialist Colleges offer a range of resources and supports for their members who are stressed or have mental health problems. See your specialist College website for details.
Welfare of Anaesthetists Special Interest Group for Anaesthetists and Anaesthetists in Training
Welfare Officers are in place at each teaching hospital Anaesthetic Department. The WA contact for this group is:
Phone: 08 6188 4555 (WA Branch), 0423 633 189 (Dr Marion Funke)
General Practitioners
The RACGP website provides extensive online resources on wellbeing. RACGP also offers “GP support” to its members. This 24/7 service provides access to free advice and up to three counselling session.
GP support: 1300 361 008
For rural and remote West Australian medical and health professionals, and their families.
Health and Wellbeing: A resource to assist rural health professionals find personal, clinical and professional support services in Western Australia.
Phone: 6389 4500
Medical students
AMSA has great on-line resources for medical students who are stressed or experiencing mental health issues.
Digital Wellbeing Tools & Self-Help Resources
Evidence-based mental health tools and self-assessment resources developed specifically for healthcare professionals.
Beyond Blue is a 24/7 service that assists people who are experiencing anxiety, depression or any other issues. A trained mental health professional will take your call, listen to you, offer support and point you in the right direction.
Phone: 1300 224 636
The Alcohol and Drug Support Line is a confidential, non-judgmental telephone counselling, information and referral service for anyone seeking help for their own or another person’s alcohol or drug use.
Phone (Metro): (08) 9442 5000
Phone (Country): 1800 198 024
Head to Health can help you find digital mental health services from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations.
Provided by the Australian Department of Health, Head to Health brings together apps, online programs, online forums, and phone services, as well as a range of digital information resources.
THIS WAY UP is run by clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers, and web technicians based at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD) – a joint facility of St Vincent’s Hospital and the University of New South Wales. THIS WAY UP has created over 15 tailored courses for a range of mental health conditions. Online courses are available instantly without a need for an assessment or a referral, to make it easier for you to access quality mental health self-help.
Professional Resources & Workplace Wellbeing
Find professional guidance, workplace wellbeing initiatives, national organisations, and practical resources to support safe, healthy, and sustainable medical practice.
For a contact list of doctors’ health service providers in different states.
Useful and important information regarding notifications and good practice.
Useful resources, articles, reports and links for Doctors’ wellbeing.
Strategies for better mental health in the workplace.
The Frontline Families Program is a self-study online course that contains video tutorials which aim to assist first responders, their partners and their families, to safely, happily and confidently navigate the challenges that can come with frontline services life.
https://alongside.thinkific.com/courses/frontline-families-program
The Doctors’ Health Advisory Service in WA (DHASWA) has compiled this list. For queries about the paper, or to add resource information to this list, contact manager@dhaswa.com.au. Members of DHASWA are also available to give talks to medical groups on Doctors health. Edition: November 2021
