Resident Wellness
Office of Resident Affairs
Resident Affairs provides support and assistance to residents in family medicine and specialty training programs across the Maritimes.
This includes individual counselling, coaching, facilitation of referrals to other health care providers and education around resident wellness.
Residents experiencing personal or academic difficulty will find the RA office is a safe, confidential place to address these issues
Carolyn Thomson, MD, CCFP, FCFP
Assistant Dean, Resident Affairs
FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Clinical Research Centre, Room C-124
5849 University Avenue
PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
Carolyn.Thomson@dal.ca
902.494.3232
Lisa Sutherland, MD, CCFP, FCFP (she/her)
Assistnat Dean, DMNB Student and Residents Affairs
FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick
100 Tucker Park Road
Saint John, NS E2L 4L5
Lisa.Sutherland@dal.ca
506.643.1431
Visit the Office of Resident Affairs Site
Professional support program for residents (formerly PIETA)
The Doctors Nova Scotia Professional Support Program (PSP) offers confidential help to practicing and retired physician, residents, and their families who are experiencing problems – whether they are personal or professional, financial or psychological, psychiatric or addictive.
Doctors Nova Scotia, in conjunction with Maritime Resident Doctors and Dalhousie Medical School, provides this confidential support to all Dalhousie residents and their families at no cost.
The coordinators of the program have extensive experience in working with people in need of help. A network of the best treatment providers in the province has been assembled to help physicians and residents in Nova Scotia. These resources are available to aid each member with his/her specified difficulty.
If required, they are able to connect residents with other professionals including psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists and financial advisors that are not affiliated with Dalhousie or any hospital program. Services are also available for partners and family members. All discussions are strictly confidential.
The PSP provides compassionate support without judgement. The goal of the PSP is to provide treatment but also to educate and counsel physicians and residents around the prevention of issues such as substance abuse, mental illness, stress and burnout. Potential problems may be identified by peers, faculty, friends or family. In this event, a concerned individual can contact the PSP.
If you are concerned about yourself or one of your peers, contact:
Professional Support Program
Phone: 902-468-8215
professionalsupport@doctorsns.com
For New Brunswick residents:
Meaghan Sibbett
Manager, NBMS Wellness
506-875-6749 msibbett@nbms.nb.ca
All calls are confidential and will be returned within 2 business days.
Please visit this page for a list of Resident Wellness Resources
Employee and Family Assistance Program
For information on the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFPA) please visit the Shepell.fgi site.
NSHA Medical Education Office
The Nova Scotia Health Authority Medical Education Office provide support for residents on the hospital site. Contact: Jesse.Joice@nshealth.ca
Other support services
Dalhousie Health and Wellness Services
Residents can also call Maritime Resident Doctors directly for physician-at-risk matters, 1-877-972-7467.
Dalhousie Counseling and Psychological Services , 494-2081, Room 409 (4th floor) Student Union Building, Professional and confidential counseling free of charge. Appointments required, some same-day appointments available.
Dalhousie Office of Human Rights, Equity & Harassment Prevention, 494-1137, Room 2, Henry Hicks Administration Building. Education, resources, prevention, to provide fair procedures for handling complaints. Visit Dalhousie's Office of Human Rights, Equity & Harassment Prevention online.
Dalhousie Chaplains , 494 2287, Room 437 (4th floor) Student Union Building. Confidential counseling on personal and spiritual issues. Available and receptive to all students regardless of religious background.
Alcoholics Anonymous , 461-1119, Self-help group for those with a drinking problem who want to do something about it.
Avalon Centre , 425-0122, 5670 Spring Garden Rd., 24 hour sexual assault crisis line, counseling and support groups for survivors of sexual abuse.
B-Glad (Bisexuals, Gays, and Lesbians at Dalhousie), 494-1256. Operates out of the Student Union Building, regular meetings and social events.
Canadian Mental Health Association , 455-5445, 2786 Agricola Street, Rm. 216, Education, referral systems, social support systems.
Eating Disorders Clinic , 473-6288, Dedicated to helping individuals overcome anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, provides education and skill development, family support groups.
Family Services Association , 420-1980, Counseling for individuals, couples, and families.
Gambling Awareness , 1-888-347-8888, Help line, counseling for gamblers or those living with a gambler.
Home of the Guardian Angel , 422-7964, 6345 Coburg Rd., Adoption and pregnancy counseling, single parent centre, prenatal classes.
Narcotics Anonymous , 454-2913, Self-help group for those with a drug problem who want to do something about it.
Halifax Sexual Health Centre, 6009 Quinpool Rd., 455-9656, Free pregnancy testing, unintended pregnancy options counseling, morning after pills, STI testing, anonymous HIV testing.
Public Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia, 454-2198, Legal information line with a counselor, referral services to a lawyer.
The Self Help Connection , 466-2011, 63 King St., Dartmouth, Province-wide directory of self-help groups.