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The Dentist Wellness Program provides discreet, confidential support for BC dentists and their families through experienced program staff and/or an extensive network of counsellors, therapists and coaches. The program helps with a wide range of issues, including substance use, mental health, relationship stress, career and life transitions, peer support, workplace relationships and concern for colleagues.
Call DWP’s 24-hour, confidential line to be connected immediately with a licensed TELUS Health clinical counsellor: 1-800-661-9199. We provide intake assessments and crisis counselling for callers any time of day or night.
Access direct, physician help with personal or professional issues. Whether you’re dealing with a professional complaint, a negative clinical outcome, workload stress or any other challenge, you’ll receive confidential support from a trusted physician colleague.
We also offer group dentist peer support sessions where you can connect anonymously with dentist peers to discuss professional and personal challenges you may be facing. Email to join: dwpsupport@physicianhealth.com.
“I would not hesitate to recommend this service because sometimes you feel like there is nowhere else to turn. The service was both professional and caring.”
How can you help a colleague who might be in distress? It’s not always easy to choose the right approach. If you are concerned about another dentist, please call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-661-9199 . We will plan and coordinate with you a series of confidential steps to ensure your colleague receives any help they may need.
A workplace that is both physically and psychologically safe is critical for optimal patient care – and it directly affects your own wellbeing. We offer a range of services to help you enhance professional relationships, improve communication practices and strengthen your mental and emotional resiliency at work.
Returning to work after an illness or prolonged absence is seldom a simple process. We provide coaching, planning, and follow-up support to help you make a transition that both enhances your recovery and ensures the safety of patients.
Meet with our team to better understand the impact of your health on your work, and how your work influences your health.
Through us you have access to our province-wide network of clinical counsellors and life coaches who can provide the short-term help you need.
We can help you to find a specialized coach, counsellor or therapist who can address your specific challenges.
“Definitely the best thing I ever did was reach out for help. We think we can do it all on our own, but sometimes you just need a little support. Why struggle on your own for so long when someone is there to help you figure it out. I was unbelievably stressed, I didn’t even know I was depressed and had some anxiety until I talked to someone. After a couple sessions I had a glimmer of hope and am now feeling more myself again. If another life event happens that I’m not ready to cope with I won’t hesitate to contact DWP again.”
The DWP provides 24/7 confidential support, referrals and counselling services for eligible dentists and their families.
We are here to help to all active BCDA members and their families. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact us at 1-800-661-9199 (same as the DPAP number). Dental staff can continue to access the Member Assistance Program (MAP) through the CDSPI website (enter BCDA when prompted) or by phone:1-844-578-4040 for 24/7 counselling support.
Yes. Your identity, personal information and the fact you contacted us will be held in full confidence. Information pertaining to you and/or your family will only be released to third parties with your explicit consent or as required by law.
Yes. We accept anonymous calls and do our best to help those who wish to remain anonymous. However, some of our services cannot be provided unless eligibility for them can be established through disclosure of identity.
The DWP is completely funded by the BCDA and is managed by the Physician Health Program on behalf of the BCDA. The British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals does not have access to your records when you participate in the DWP.
Yes. If you are concerned about the mental or physical health of a fellow dentist, please call us. We serve any member of the general public who is worried about the health and well-being of a Dentist.
We do not charge for the counselling, support, advisory and referral services we provide to eligible BC dentists and their families. We do not, however, reimburse for similar services you may have received outside our program.
You can share the DWP contact information with your colleagues and encourage them to contact us, alternatively, you can seek their verbal permission for DWP staff to contact and outreach them.
You can give the DWP administrative office a call at 1-800-661-9199 between Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm to learn more about the program.
For general DWP inquiries, please contact info@physicianhealth.com.
Program physicians offer intake support, peer support, and advice to dentists. Our team includes physicians with expertise in psychiatry, family medicine, occupational medicine, addictions and others. They do not act as treating physicians.
Dr. Anne Nguyen, MD, CCFP(AM), diplSAM
Physician Lead
Dr. Kathleen McGarvey, MD FRCPC
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr. Joyce Coutts, MD CCFP(AM, COE) dABAM
Dr. Peter Gibson, MD FRCPC
Dr. Maureen Mayhew, MDCM MPH PCC
Dr. Doug McGhee, MD CCFP(AM) CCSAM
Dr. Karen Palmer, MD FRCPC
Clinical Coordinators provide case management, health system navigation, community referrals and proactive follow-up support. Our Clinical Coordinators have training in counselling, social work, nursing, occupational health and other areas of allied health. They do not provide direct psychotherapy support.
Julie Longo, MScOT
Dalal Badawi, MSW
Dolores Langford, PT, DPT
Emily Fetterly, RN, MScN
Hilary Nolle, RN
Alice Watson, RMN, MSc (NMC UK)
Our administrative team ensures dentists accessing our services have a smooth and streamlined experience by directing inquiries to the appropriate supports and providing administrative support to all our clinical operations.
Tom Rapanakis
Executive Director, PHP
Roxanne Joyce, MA, RCC
Manager, Clinical Services
Kristina Auman
Manager, Clinical Services
Patzi Baranowska
Manager, Operations
Felicia Phan, MPH
Manager, Outreach
Mark Lee
Project Coordinator
Natasha Dias,
Senior Administrative Assistant
Ines Becker
Senior Administrative Assistant
Niki Hern
Data & Administration Coordinator
The Member Assistance Program (MAP) is a no-cost, 24/7/365, confidential service available to all members of the dental team. Through MAP, dental staff have access to help and guidance with the prevention and management of a wide range of health, work and relationship issues.
Contact MAP 24/7: 1-844-578-4040 or workhealthlife.com *Enter BCDA when prompted.
400 – 1765 West 8 Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 5C6
HOURS
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 4:00pm
The BC Dental Association office is located on the homelands of the Coast Salish peoples, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. BCDA gratefully acknowledges that BC dentists live and work on the unceded, traditional and ancestral homelands of Indigenous Peoples and Nations across BC.
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