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As a healthcare worker, looking after others is just part of the job – but when was the last time you put thought and effort into taking care of yourself?
This important question is posed by The Essential Network (TEN), a platform developed by health professionals for health professionals. TEN is deeply committed to supporting the mental health of health practitioners across Australia.
With International Men’s Day (IMD) just around the corner on Sunday, 19 November this year, Optometry Australia encourages members to take a moment to perform a ‘mental health check-in’.
We firmly believe that the mental health and wellbeing of optometrists are of paramount importance, and for this reason, we have a wide range of mental health resources that all members can freely tap into.
International Men’s Day: ‘Healthy Men, Health World’
The theme for IMD 2023 in Australia is ‘Healthy Men, Healthy World’. This theme focuses on one of the core objectives of IMD, which is to shed light on some of the social issues that men and boys face and address disparities in health outcomes.
Tragically, a study conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for males to access mental health support, with findings indicating that a staggering 75% of those who take their own life are male. Moreover, in their recent National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2023 report, only about a third (37%) of males with a 12-month mental disorder saw a health professional for their mental health compared with more than half (55%) of females.
Sadly, another report released earlier this year by Ahpra revealed an equally troubling statistic; between January 2018 and December 2021, 16 health practitioners across the National Scheme tragically took their own lives while involved in regulatory processes or investigations, and an additional four practitioners attempted suicide or engaged in self-harming behaviours.
According to TEN, many healthcare workers, male and female, often hesitate to seek mental health support due to the fear of being reported to Ahpra. This is despite the fact that reports are quite rare, and the likelihood of losing registration as a result is less than one per cent.
Resources to support you
These statistics reinforce the need to address mental health and wellbeing in our profession. Optometry Australia is fully committed to supporting our members, and we remind you of the collection of free, tailored mental health resources immediately available to you. Some of these include:
- A Member Assistance Program, which provides members with up to three coaching and counselling sessions with trained psychologists over a 12-month period
- Articles written by optometrists on preventing burnout in optometry
- Webcasts and podcasts to help you optimise your physical and mental wellbeing
- A Member Help Desk manned by optometrist advisors to support you in your daily work and practice
Reach out for help
We encourage members who need support to reach out for help if needed.
- Find more Optometry Australia mental health resources here
- Access the TEN platform for health professionals here
Lifeline: 13 11 14 available 24/7
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36 available 24/7
MensLine: 1300 78 99 78
Tagged as: Mental health