Caring for yourself and your team

Table of contents

Module 4 – Psychological support for self and others | Caring for yourself and your team

Practice teams may not only be directly impacted by disasters but also overloaded by the traumatic experiences of others. It is vital that each person take steps to look after and protect their own health and wellbeing.

If a practice member has become affected by the traumatic experiences of patients, they may:

have unusually heightened responses to these (or all) patients,
experience increased levels of arousal (i.e., sleep disturbance), or
show avoidant behaviour (e.g., procrastinating more than usual or increasing their alcohol use).

Tips on managing feelings of overwhelm

Discuss distressing or difficult experiences with friends, family or colleagues.
Limit your exposure to stress-inducing situations a tolerable level, where possible.
Maintain good general health with regular exercise, good nutrition and sleep habits.
Seek help when it’s needed.

Where to seek professional help

Support service	Details
RACGP GP support program	The RACGP GP Support Program provides free and confidential psychological support to members.
DRS4DRS	is an independent program providing confidential support and resources to doctors and medical students across Australia, by doctors. Confidential phone advice is available 24/7 for any doctor or medical student in Australia via .
The Essential Network (TEN) for Health Professionals	This , developed by the Black Dog Institute, connects frontline healthcare workers with services to help manage burnout and maintain good mental health.
Helping Australian and New Zealand Nurses and Doctors (Hand-n-Hand) Peer Support	offers free confidential peer support for health professionals.
CRANAplus Bush Support Service	Free and confidential 24-hour/7-day-a-week telephone counselling service for rural and remote health practitioners. The service is staffed by psychologists, including two Aboriginal psychologists. CRANAplus membership is not required to access the service. Phone 1800 805 391.
Community support services	Other mental health support services available include: – 13 11 14 – 1300 224 636 – 1300 789 978 – 1800 551 800

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