ADA RESOURCES AIM TO IMPROVE DENTIST WELLBEING
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Providing wellness resources to member dentists is a top priority for the Ohio Dental Association and the American Dental Association.
“So many of our colleagues are suffering (anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, suicide, etc.),” said Dr. Brett Kessler, who spoke at the 2024 ODA Leadership Institute and is president-elect of the American Dental Association. “We want our members to know that they are not alone. ‘You are your most valuable asset. Treat yourself as such.’”
The ADA’s website features many different resources on wellness topics for dentists and their staff members, including information on mental, physical and emotional health.
“ADA.org/wellness is the best place to start with wellness resources,” said Dr. Britni Skoda, a general dentist in Beachwood and ADA wellness ambassador. “It is loaded with information on all sorts of wellness topics. We have a well-being index developed by the Mayo clinic to aid in our personal mental health check-ups. We have a document listing of mental health support persons in every state who can help in a crisis or before a crisis occurs. There are articles on pregnancy resources, ergonomics in dentistry and so much more.”
The Mayo Clinic’s Well-being Index is one of the newest wellness resources available free to ADA members. Through the Well-Being Index, members can do a fast and easy check-in of their physical and mental health and get personalized resources.
The anonymous online assessment contains nine simple yes/no or slider-scale questions and takes less than 1 minute to complete. After completing the assessment, a list of customized resources will be available based on your results. Resources include helpful links, videos and documents to help improve your well-being.
The ADA’s website features a Dentist Well-Being Program Directory that provides a list of health care professionals in each state who will serve as a point of contact and offer support during a time of need.
The ADA has teamed up with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to create “After a Suicide Postvention Toolkit,” which is available as a free resource to support anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one after suicide.
Other resources on the ADA website include ergonomic stretches, pregnancy resources and wellness videos including webinars, guided meditations and short videos on topics like depression and opioid prescribing.
The ADA Member Advantage program has a partnership with ClassPass, where dentists can receive a discount on in-person or on demand fitness classes. To get started, visit ADA.org/ClassPass and sign up using Company Code ADACP.
The ADA also hosts a podcast called Dental Sound Bites where hosts chat with expert guests and share their perspectives on topics and trends in dentistry. Several of the podcasts discuss wellness topics. To listen to the podcast, visit https://www.ada.org/publications/dental-sound-bites.
“The ADA has done a great job of putting all of the resources into one place,” Skoda said. “Now we just need to make everyone aware of what’s available. The ADA has provided a way for people to gain knowledge without scrutiny – to learn about how to handle different situations, gain knowledge about depression, anxiety, etc. just by exploring the wellness hub. Aside from mental health, we also have physical health resources available. This is truly an invaluable resource available to member dentists.”
All of the ADA’s wellness resources can be accessed online free as a benefit of your membership at www.ada.org/wellness.
“Wellness is important in every single aspect of our lives,” Skoda said. “Taking an active role in our personal wellness makes us better dentists, friends, partners, parents, etc. Providing the resources to our members is the first step to helping everyone be the most well version of themselves spiritually, physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.”
The ADA’s 2021 Dentist Well-Being Survey Report found that the percentage of dentists diagnosed with anxiety more than tripled in 2021 compared with 2003.
Results from the 2021 survey indicated that dentists continue to be plagued with mental and emotional health concerns. Many were less likely to feel in control of their work environment, reported a higher level of stress at work and scored high on a depression scale. According to the survey, many dental professionals are dealing with burnout and other conditions related to stress.
“Unfortunately, there are many stories of people who didn’t know where to turn for help when they needed it,” Skoda said. “By promoting the available resources, it is my hope that no one will ever feel lost. That if any of us comes to a point where we are searching for help, we will know exactly where to turn.”
For more information on wellness resources available through the Ohio Dental Association, see the July issue of the “ODA Today” or click here.
