For many years, dentists have been coming together in an organized way to help each other with personal problems . It started with support from recovering dentists, and then with support from others with a sympathetic understanding of the disease of alcoholism and substance use disorders, all working to put a system in place to reach out to those who were still suffering. Dentists, dental students, and dental team members can experience physical and mental health and well-being issues like the general public and having a resource to turn to, such as this well-being programs directory, may promote help-seeking behavior.
Peer assistance is just what it sounds like -- one colleague being available to assist another with a particular need. Over the years, helping hands have also been extended to dental professionals with depression or other mental health disorders; extending assistance to those whose edges are frayed from chronic stress or burnout.
This State Well-Being Programs Directory provides a list of state contacts to help connect you to support during your time of need. ADA Wellness Ambassadors are also included because these volunteers have offered to be a resource. This directory compiles information provided by state dental societies in the Tripartite and other external organizations.
Additionally, this updated directory also includes contacts at the 28 Physician Health Programs (PHPs) that are members of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) and provide a therapeutic alternative to discipline for dentists. These 28 FSPHP member programs provide confidential resources for physicians, other licensed healthcare professionals, or those in training suffering from addictive, psychiatric, medical, behavioral or other potentially impairing conditions are available. 28 of these programs are available to dentists which includes: Arizona (Community Bridges, Inc .), Arizona (Gateway Recovery Institute), Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri (University of Missouri Physician and Health Professionals Wellness Program), Montana (Maximus), Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming . Please find your state program here: State Programs.
