Self care and community care - GP Synergy

Self care and community care

Looking after yourself and your wellbeing is essential as a GP.

Self care

Sleep

Research consistently shows 7-9 hours of sleep per night is mandatory for overall health, memory consolidation, concentration, and mood regulation (not to mention increasing life- expectancy and preventing many chronic diseases)

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Movement

Exercise for 30 minutes every day improves our energy levels, sleep, and concentration. Choose an activity you enjoy and make it part of your routine.

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Nutrition

Eating a nutritious and varied diet creates more sustained energy than quick fixes such as sugar, caffeine, and fast food.

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Stress management

Breathing exercises can help calm our stress in the moment. If you are feeling stressed, try this one-minute breathing exercise from Headspace and reflect on how you feel afterwards.

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Exam stress

For tips and more evidence-based advice, check out the helpful information on exam preparation and wellbeing on GPRime.

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Community support

We all need support from others to survive and thrive in life. There are many ways GP registrars can seek support from the healthcare community, and it is essential that all GP registrars have their own GP during training and beyond.

Finding your own GP

If you don’t already have your own GP, don’t fret, now’s the time to start. If you aren’t sure where to begin, there are many ways to find a local GP who is a good fit for you.

You can ask for a recommendation from friends or family, your Medical Educator (ME), or people who GPs refer to such as your local pharmacist or physiotherapist.

Or you can check out the AMA list of GPs who have volunteered to see doctors-in-training at Doctors for colleagues.

Ideally find a GP who is close to home where possible. We do not recommend that you see a GP in the practice where you work or try to be your own GP. Being a registrar is a challenging time and we all need our own GP to support our health and wellbeing.

GP mentorship

GP Synergy facilitates a mentoring program for new registrars. Speak with your ME about signing up and connecting with a registrar mentor.

ACRRM has a mentoring program for all members. You can sign up at Mentor match.

GPRA

General Practice Registrars Australia has a range of ways to get involved and support other GPs in training. Check out their website at https://gpra.org.au/.

Balint groups

Balint groups are small support groups where health professionals discuss cases from their practices with a focus on the clinician-patient relationship. You can find your own Balint group through the Balint Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Social media

Facebook has GP Synergy registrar groups for each subregion. Search for ‘GP Synergy’ and join your local group.

GPs Down Under is an online GP community for Australian and NZ Doctors on Facebook

Doctors Health Advisory Service

You can contact Doctors Health Advisory Service for advice on your health and wellbeing anytime 24/7 and receive a call back from a GP within 4 hours. The NSW Help line is 02 9437 6552.

Counselling support

The RACGP offer members three free one-hour sessions with a psychologist, via the GP Support Program. This can be used to make an appointment for face-to-face or telephone counselling during business hours. RACGP members also have access to counselling for traumatic incidents or crisis situations. This service is available 24 hours, seven days a week.

ACRRM members have complementary access to ACRRM Employee Assistance Program for immediate confidential counselling support 24/7. Phone 1800 818 728 to access this member service.

GP Synergy also offers access to confidential counselling to registrars, supervisors and practice managers, visit GPRime for more information.

Other support services for doctors

 

Return to wellbeing circle

 

If you are considering self-harm or suicide, you must seek help immediately. Please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue (phone or web chat support) and make an urgent appointment with your GP.

If you or someone you are with is in immediate danger, please call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Your life is precious and things can get better with the right support.

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