Doctors’ Health SA invites Rural Doctors to join Dr Maura Kenny’s Mindful Self Care Course

Along with the usual pressures of rural medical work, the Covid-19 pandemic and bushfires have led to some extremely challenging times. Without good self-care strategies, we can find it hard to cope adaptively with the intense work pressures that now exist.

Mindfulness approaches teach us how to look after ourselves wisely and kindly so that we can cope with all the extra challenges that are part of this pandemic. And there is growing evidence that when health professionals practice mindfulness, there are beneficial effects not just for them, but for the patients under their care (Grepmair et al, 2007; Annelrving et al, 2009).

With the support of Doctors’ Health SA this introductory mindfulness course is available to up to 20 rural doctors who wish to learn mindfulness skills for use in their personal and professional lives. Participants are asked to practice meditation for 15 minutes on a daily basis in order to test out the potential benefits for themselves. Practicing the meditations at home for at least 15 minutes daily enhances the benefits over the duration of the course and beyond.

Details: Every Tuesday for 6 weeks

Dates: Starting 23 February* each week through to 30 March 2021

Time: 7.45pm to 9.00pm

(*note first class only is for 2 hours as it includes an introduction to the course, thereafter sessions will be 1.25hrs)

Venue: Online using Zoom at this time (free download via https://zoom.us/)

Cost: Free (includes course booklet and guided meditations). Supported by funding from Country SA PHN.

Participants numbers are limited.

Course Facilitator & Developer: Dr Maura Kenny, MBChB, MRCPsych, FRANZCP, is a Psychiatrist and Coordinator of the Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Programs at the Centre for the Treatment of Anxiety & Depression, CALHN. She is also an Associate of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, Oxford University. She has extensive experience of providing mindfulness courses to doctors and other health professionals. Her 6 week course has now been taken up in health settings interstate and overseas with outcome data showing reductions in stress and increases in self-compassion.

To register or for more information, please contact – Doctors’ Health SA Program Manager, Kiara Cannizzaro via email kiara.cannizzaro@doctorshealthsa.com.au or by DHSA phone 08 8232 1250.