key: cord-0017771-sbr5h3y7
authors: nan
title: New Mental Health Wellness initiative launched
date: 2021-05-28
journal: Br Dent J
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-021-3109-6
sha: 26f5343ee0c907b0ec289b289ec45dbac6f173d1
doc_id: 17771
cord_uid: sbr5h3y7

nan

The initiative has gained widespread support from across dentistry, with a large number of endorsing partners.

Mental health is never far from front page news and it has a longstanding association with dentistry. When you look closer this appears to be associated with dentists rather than the whole dental team. To anyone that understands the intricacies of being part of a dental team and especially the clinical team, it is difficult to perhaps see why there have only ever been papers and research on dentists. Yes, there are added pressures, but if pressures spill over it can very quickly become a team matter. Support for the whole team is varied across settings (primary and secondary care), and across team members, and yet mental health knows no such boundaries. This was the driver and start of the work from the Dental Professional Alliance.

There have been several papers produced during the pandemic about stress, anxiety, and burnout; most have again focused on the dentist. When you look to the NHS in general, it talks more broadly of frontline staff, although much has been written about the nursing teams too. Stress, anxiety and burnout are not mental illnesses but we know that they can add to mental health issues. In an almost timely fashion, the Office for National Statistics 1 has just published data on coronavirus and depression in adults and this paints a worrying picture. Double the number of adults have experienced depression symptoms in comparison to the pre-COVID statistics. 1 In January-March 2021 one in five (21%) have suffered with depression symptoms, with an increase from November 2020 which was 19%. 1 Notably, the evidence shows that two in five cases are young adults and female. 1

 Humphris et al. 2 have just published a paper looking at health and wellbeing as an outcome of uncertainties of the pandemic in dental team members. 'Of 329 respondents the researchers report that 27% appear to have reported significant depressive symptomology and 55% appear to suggest that they have suffered emotional exhaustion. ' 2 Interestingly, the paper suggests that primary care staff reported higher incidences. The recommendations clearly suggest that there could be benefit in 'resourcing staff support and interventions to help team members in [challenging times]' . 2 Not only does the Humphris et al. 2 paper speak to the whole team, it touches on the narrative of resourcing staff support and interventions, which takes this full circle and right back to the principles of the extensive work recently undertaken by the Dental Professional Alliance and stakeholders, who have designed a framework introducing the need for a mental health wellness lead in every dental setting with an underlying ethos that early intervention and safe signposting is paramount.

The initial call to action from the initiative is that each dental workplace should have an identified individual who acts as a 'mental health wellness lead' and who through a recognised training programme is confident, competent and committed to improving the perception of mental health wellness in the workplace. This forms part of a six-part process:

• Identify mental health wellness lead • All members of dental team to undergo stress awareness training • Leads to undertake MHFA training • Design workplace action plan • Join local peer support networks • Complete annual training and maintain skills.

Roz McMullan said, 'No one should feel alone or unable to talk to someone at work and for this very reason, this "call to action" asks decision makers and line managers to adopt this cultural change to mental health wellness in the dental workplace, and commit to the recognised training pathway' .

For more information about the initiative and how you can get involved, visit: https://mhwd.org/.

The General Dental Council (GDC) has published an updated statement 1 in relation to direct-to-consumer orthodontics which highlights issues dental professionals -particularly those working in the remote provision of orthodontics -need to consider.

The statement is based on three main requirements: 1. In line with current authoritative clinical guidance, and orthodontic training, clinical judgements about the suitability of a proposed course of orthodontic treatment must be based on a full assessment of the patient's oral health. At present, there is no effective substitute for a physical, clinical examination as the foundation for that assessment. Should a dentist rely upon information from another source to inform their own clinical judgement, the responsibility for that judgement rests wholly with the prescribing dentist 2. Direct interaction between patient and practitioner -whether in person or remotely -is essential for providing patients with the opportunity to ask questions, provide valid and informed consent, and be satisfied that the course of treatment proposed is likely to meet their needs and expectations 3. Patients must know the full name of the dental professional responsible for their treatment and be able to make direct contact with that person if they need to.

GDC Executive Director, Strategy, Stefan Czerniawski, said: 'Traditionally, healthcare is delivered in person -patient and clinician sitting in the same room discussing treatment options and agreeing on a way forward. New technology is challenging that norm and we support innovation wherever it safely brings benefits to the patient. But safety is absolutely key and new ways of doing things must not compromise well-established safety measures which are designed to protect patients.

'Our statement highlights a number of issues that dental professionals working in remote models of treatment will need to consider. One of the main things to remember though, as is the case in any other setting, it remains the treating dentist who is responsible for ensuring they have met all of the Standards for the dental team. ' In addition to the statement, the GDC has also published information to support dental professionals in exercising professional judgement. 2 Should professionals have any questions or concerns in relation to their practice, they should seek further advice from their indemnifier or professional association. The GDC says it will continue to monitor developments in this area.

Analysis of the proportion of the British adult population experiencing some form of depression in early 2021 by age, sex and other characteristics. Includes comparisons with 2020 and pre-pandemic estimates

Exploring the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dental team: preparedness, psychological impacts and emotional reactions. Front Oral Health

GDC Statement on 'direct-to-consumer' orthodontic treatment

Direct-to-consumer orthodontics: information to support professional judgement