It's a well known fact that residency is a busy and stressful time. In recent years, the work environment for resident doctors has been redefined with a greater awareness on the health of Canadian resident's mind, body, and spirit. A variety of wellness supports are available to champion resident health and wellness.
Not sure who to call? Call 211 or 811
211 Alberta is a free, confidential service offered by CMHA that provides information and referral to a wide range of community, social and government services.
811 Health Link is a telephone service provided by AHS that provides free 24/7 nurse advice and general health information for Albertan's.
Canadian Mental Health Association 24 Hour Distress Line 780-428-HELP (4357)
The CMHA provides a 24-hour CRISIS line providing immediate support. Call now if you or someone you know is in crisis: contemplating suicide, feeling overwhelmed, or experiencing abuse.
Resident Physician Burnout
Ferguson C, Low G, Shiau G. Resident physician burnout: Insights from a Canadian multi-specialty study. Postgrad Med J. 2020;0:1-8. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-13731
UofA Office of Advocacy & Well-Being (OAW)
At the University of Alberta, the Office of Advocacy & Well-Being (OAW) ensures learners in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry have a voice in issues that affect their professional and academic lives. The office also promotes balance, resilience and the provision of adequate supports and accommodation when barriers to achievement arise. The OAW is a safe place for learners to go when they have academic or personal issues. Services are provided on a confidential basis. Visit the OAW website for more information.
UofA WellTrack Online Self-help Program & Moodcheck Mobile APP
WellTrack is a free online self-help program for all University of Alberta students who want to learn more about coping with stress, anxiety, and depression. MoodCheck, the companion mobile app to WellTrack, provides users with a quick and easy way to check their mood while on the go, and is available for free from the Apple App Store and from Google Play for Android. Both can be accessed through the UofA Wellness site.
New to Edmonton, Going on Maternity Leave, Need Childcare
The OAW website provides a plethora of wellness information; A New to Edmonton resource list, maternity and parental leave checklist, child care resource list, and financial aid FAQ's/Tips are just a few of the resources available to residents. Visit the OAW Postgraduate Resources web page for more information.
The well-being of medical relationships: Striking a balance with your spouse, colleagues & self
The information contained in this e-book addresses some of the most common challenges physicians and physicians-in-training face in their work and personal relationships. A recurrent theme of callers to the Physician and Family Support Program (PFSP) assistance line is difficulty with relationships, particularly with partners/spouses.
UofA Resident Well-Being Committee (RWBC)
The University of Alberta Resident Well-Being Committee (RWBC) provides resources and support necessary for residents to maximize their own, as well as their family’s health and well-being. The committee acts broadly by helping to co-ordinate well-being events for residents and provides funding for approved events. Visit the RWBC website for the RWBC funding package/application form and event ideas. The application package, along with ideas for wellness events, are also available in the files below.
UofA Health and Wellness Support
The UofA ACCESS Outreach Team connects students to on-campus wellness services. UofA students receive ongoing assistance throughout the process of attaining appropriate mental health supports while bridging service gaps and connecting students to timely and effective resources. UofA faculty and staff have access to the University Health Center, the University Employee and Family Assistance Program and a variety of supports from counselling to coaching to financial planning.
Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoC)
Resident Doctors of Canada (RDoC) is dedicated to supporting its members’ health and wellness throughout their medical training. RDoC has taken a leadership role in a number of resident wellness projects. Visit the RDoC website for information on fatigue risk management, strengthening resiliency, optimizing a positive work environment and much more.
Alberta Medical Association Physician and Family Support Program (PFSP)
The AMA Physician and Family Support Program provides confidential support and help with personal health issues and enhances the quality of patient care and public safety by promoting health and well-being for the medical profession that cares for all Albertan's. Physicians, residents and medical students need to be able to voluntarily seek help with the assurance of confidentiality. Working with PFSP is one way to ensure that difficulties can be identified and mitigated before a crisis or concern about patient safety arises.
The Well-Being of Medical Relationships
The PFSP e-book - The Well-Being of Medical Relationships: Striking a Balance with Your Spouse, Colleagues & Self was developed to assist physicians with developing and maintaining healthy, happy personal and professional relationships. A copy of the e-book is available in the file section below.
Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD)
The AMA Physician and Family Support Program and the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta have partnered with Dr. Teresa Eliasson to create a video to educate physicians about SUD: what it is, how to identify it and where to seek help. This video will help to increase awareness of SUD and will be used to support the SUD conversation via PFSP’s education program, with the goal of educating and informing physicians, medical students and residents. View the video here.
Communities Supporting Student Mental Health
The mental well-being of students at the U of A is the responsibility of the whole community - all individuals, services, groups, and programs contribute to student mental health. Visit the UofA Community Support site for additional resources.