The Victorian Doctors Health Program (VDHP) is a free, confidential service for doctors and medical students who have health concerns such as stress, mental health problems, substance use problems, or any other health issues.
The Victorian Doctors Health Program is a free, confidential service for all doctors and medical students who have concerns about their well being such as stress, mental health problems, substance use problems, or any other health issues.
Sensitive to the needs of doctors and medical students, we are a non-judgmental service dedicated to improving the health and well being of those within the profession.
VDHP provides assistance to doctors and medical students who have any of the following concerns:
Advice is also provided to anyone who is concerned about a doctor or medical student. This includes family, friends, colleagues, university staff and clinical staff.
Since the commencement of VDHP, we have assisted doctors and medical students presenting with numerous issues ranging from those having a mild impact on quality of life to those threatening careers and lives. VDHP deals with each individual case on its merits and offers a range of interventions.
VDHP develops individual management plans and co-ordinates treatment, including arranging appropriate referrals to external treatment providers. We conduct our service with the utmost discretion. Confidentiality is of utmost priority to VDHP. However, like all health practitioners, we are required to remain in compliance with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009.
VDHP regularly delivers educational presentations and workshops to doctors and medical students about:
We can tailor our presentations according to specific needs – we can provide anything from a 15 min lecture-style presentation to an interactive workshop lasting half a day.
A few examples of the groups to which we have presented are: medical students at universities, interns at hospitals, and GPs in rural Victoria via their local division of General Practice. Our Senior Clinicians have also been keynote speakers at various medical conferences.
SIMILAR SERVICES IN OTHER STATES
| NSW | Doctors’ Health Advisory Service | 24 hrs/7 days | 02 9437 6552 |
| QLD | Doctors’ Health in Queensland | 24 hrs/7 days | 07 3833 4352 |
| WA | Doctors’ Health Advisory Service WA | 24 hrs/7 days | 08 9321 3098 |
| SA | Doctors’ Health SA | 24 hrs/7 days | 08 8366 0250 |
| NT | Doctors’ Health NT | 24 hrs/7 days | 08 8366 0250 |
| ACT/ TAS | Doctors’ Health Advisory Service | 24 hrs/7 days | 1300 374 377 |
| VIC | AMA Peer Support Line | 8am-11pm/7days | 1300 853 338 |
MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU STAY HEALTHY AND SUPPORT FOR WHEN YOU ARE NOT
DRS4DRS (www.drs4drs.com.au) has been developed by the medical profession for the medical profession. We are here for all the profession and our medical students.
This website of information and contacts complements the network of doctors’ health advisory and referral services, which offer an independent, safe, supportive and confidential service. https://www.drs4drs.com.au/getting-help/
DRS4DRS promotes the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students across Australia. For information on how to stay well visit our website. https://www.drs4drs.com.au/staying-well/
We’re here to help you find the support you need – online resources, referral services and importantly for wellbeing, we’ll help you find a GP.
In addition to these, Doctors Health Services Pty Ltd (DrHS) is also making available a confidential and free telehealth service specifically for doctors and medical students who are struggling with their mental health. Call 1300 374 377 (1300 Dr4Drs) for crisis and non-urgent mental health support. Full details here. (link to https://www.drs4drs.com.au/getting-help/#telemedicine)
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
DRS4DRS – 1300 374 377 (1300 Dr4Drs)
http://www.drs4drs.com.au
Beyond Blue – The National Depression Initiative
www.beyondblue.org.au
Lifeline
www.lifeline.org.au
SANE Australia
www.sane.org
Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria (ADAVIC)
www.adavic.org
Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria
www.eatingdisorders.org.au
Wellways
https://www.wellways.org/
DRUG AND ALCOHOL SERVICES
Alcoholics Anonymous
Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre
www.turningpoint.org.au
Counselling Online
www.counsellingonline.org.au
Reconnexion
Narcotics Anonymous Victoria Australia
http://www.navic.net.au
Family Drug Support Australia
www.fds.org.au
PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS
Medical Board of Australia
www.medicalboard.gov.au
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
www.ahpra.gov.au
AMA Victoria
www.amavic.com.au
Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria
www.pmcv.com.au
Health Education Australia Limited
www.heal.org.au
Victorian Medical Benevolent Association
Ph: 9496 4205
Ground Floor, 293 Royal Parade
Parkville VIC 3052
Ph: 1300330543
Fax: 03 9280 8711
Email: vdhp@vdhp.org.au
Office opening hours are:
Monday – Friday 9am-5pm
Closed Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays
If you require urgent assistance outside office hours, please phone us and our answering machine will provide you with details of how to contact the senior clinician on call who will be available to assist with issues requiring immediate attention.
Please be aware that VDHP is not staffed or equipped to provide emergency services. If you require emergency assistance please dial 000, or call LifeLine on 13 11 14.