Victoria Wilson recently organised a DCP wellbeing advocates online roundtable, co-hosted by Dental Consultant Claire Frisby, to address the stigma of mental health and provide professionals with tools to become architects of their own wellbeing.
Over the years Victoria Wilson; dental therapist, yoga instructor and mental health first aider has made it her mission to help her dental peers. As she explained “Through a number of initiatives I have organised, I have highlighted how prioritising one’s well-being helps people be the best version of themselves both at home and at work, resulting in many great achievements. The dental sector is such a fast paced one, it is easy to forget about oneself, ignore signs of stress and end up off track”.
Her co-host Claire added: “Victoria and I share a passion for supporting dental teams and, with our combined experience, we aim to maximise our impact in our respective roles. Having been there ourselves, we understand how stressful the dental workplace can be and our aim is to alleviate some of this pressure, promote wellness and support the team to ensure they function optimally”.
Victoria expanded: “The roundtable initiative was another opportunity to reinforce support for the profession by creating a community of wellbeing advocates. During the event we focused on the challenges brought about by mental health, including the negative or discriminatory attitudes towards it, and what people felt about it. This was followed by exploring positive solutions to show how change can be implemented within the dental practice.”
“Attendees were given advice on how to modify certain pathways to be in a better position to overcome issues. We made tangible progress through conversation to recognise the excessive focus on the stigma of talking about aspects impacting how we are feeling, our well-being and mental health in the dental setting. We also highlighted the clear benefits of talking, how to overcome certain workplace issues and the benefits of additional focus and commitment to prioritising our own well-being. It is now essential to look at the practical daily application of methods that can help overcome mental issues and thrive in clinics for the benefit of staff and ultimately our patients”.
“We do not claim to be psychologists at all. Our aim is primary prevention before the problems really evolve, which means that we could be the first port of call to signpost individuals towards accredited support. When someone is in a bad place or struggling alone, reaching out for help can be daunting, so knowing that you can talk about anything without being judged is a step forward and what our preventative role is all about”.
“The aim of this community of wellbeing advocates is to create a safe space, break barriers and reinforce that it is okay to talk about how we are feeling and aspects that can impact our mental health, and in fact very brave to do so too. We make a point about identifying stress factors and overcoming them collectively. Nobody should ever feel alone and stuck, whatever the size of the problem.”
“Everyone who joined the roundtable discussion was invited to spread the word about mental health in a positive way. We really need as many wellbeing advocates as possible and I would like to encourage people to train as mental health first aiders as it will make such a difference to the profession’s wellbeing and increase the confidence of such professionals taking on this role”.
Participants were also offered a Sonicare toothbrush in a prize draw and a free 5 step toolkit full of details about how to become a mental health first aider.
Victoria added “I am so impressed that Philips is such an enlightened company which supports the important topic of mental health and is encouraging dental professionals to take ownership of their own wellbeing. I also thank them for offering a Sonicare toothbrush for participants.”
She concluded: “We hope to put in place a Whatsapp group to further develop this wellbeing advocate community. Our existing support group, under the Smile Revolution Thrive umbrella, is voluntary and is a safe place for like-minded individuals who share the same philosophy of mutual support and fostering positive changes. I have been privileged to witness so many selfless and generous exchanges and support within the community, I am comforted that we can confidently do more and cultivate a stronger philosophy of wellbeing advocates throughout the entire dental profession. This is my mission and pledge”.
For more information about the support community:
Victoria – info@smile-revolution.net www.smile-revolution.net
Claire – claire@click-nik.com www.click-nik.com.
You can also find out how to receive the free 5 step toolkit and/or how to become a mental health first aider.
