Dr Magdalena Simonis, MBBS; FRACGP; DRANZCOG; University of Melbourne Honorary Research Fellow, Department of General Practice
Introduction of a Hospital Doctor Strengths-based Mentoring Program (SBMP):
Young hospital doctors suffer higher depression/anxiety and suicide rates than the general population, and psychological distress is significantly greater in doctors in comparison to the general population and other professionals (3.4% vs. 2.6% vs. 0.7%, Beyond Blue, 2013).
The levels of very high psychological distress in doctors aged 30 years and below is significantly higher than individuals aged 30 years and under in the Australian population and other professionals (5.9% vs. 2.5% vs. 0.5%). The younger doctors reported higher rates of burnout compared to older doctors, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), across the three domains of emotional exhaustion (47.5% vs. 29.1%), low professional efficacy (17.6% vs. 12.8%) and high cynicism (45.8% vs. 33.8%).
The findings of the Beyond Blue survey (2013) have not as yet been acted upon and young doctors are reluctant to seek adequate support due to the stigma associated with mental health disease, mandatory reporting (AHPRA,2010) and the fear of the long-term impact on their career (AMA,2015).
The hospital culture is hierarchical and built upon the construct of the consultant as the educator and the resident as the apprentice.
The SBMP engages the consultants and interns in a programme, that hones in on the strengths in the individual and the setting they are in, and helps soften the power imbalance inherent between the authoritative figure that the mentee relies on for learning, which can be disempowering, as it makes self-determination and decision making difficult for the young doctor.
References:
- Beyond Blue, National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students October 2013, https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bl1132-report—nmhdmss-full-report_web
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-policies/guidelines-for-mandatory-notifications.aspx
- Australian Medical Association (AMA) The Mental Health of Doctors – Time for Culture Change https://ama.com.au/ausmed/mental-health-doctors-–-time-culture-change AMA 16.3/2015 position statement
