Dentists' Health Support Trust

17/09/2025

Today we take a moment to reflect upon and honour those friends and colleagues we've tragically lost to su***de.

NHS Practitioner Health and Doctors in Distress founded the National Su***de Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers to give us all the space to pause and take a moment, and also to provide tools and advice on how to manage the challenges that losing a colleague to su***de can bring. We're sharing some of that advice here, but do take a look at their pages for more information.

If you're impacted by anything we've posted, please do reach out to us - we're available 365 days a year. Or you can contact one of the many other support services available to dentists and dental colleagues here: https://mhwd.org/

11/07/2025

It's Alcohol Awareness week, and this year Alcohol Change UK are focussing on the impact of work and workplace culture on alcohol overconsumption. There are free resources available to help your workplace de-centre alcohol, and also to help you recognise colleagues in need.

As always, we're here to provide 1-2-1 support to dentists across the UK, so if you're impacted by issues related to alcohol or need support in managing your relationship with alcohol, get in touch: www.dentistshealthsupporttrust.org

Next week is Alcohol Awareness Week and this years theme is 'alcohol and work'.🧡🧑‍💼👷‍♀️💼

With longer hours, more stress, the blurring of lines between work and home, and too many workplace cultures that place booze rather than people at the centre of things, there are so many ways work and alcohol are linked.

We’ll be looking at the benefits of creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplace cultures in all types of industries and sectors – from offices to factories, shift-work to front-line services.

Want to get involved and access our free resources for the week? Sign up here👇
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/alcohol-awareness-week-1/about-alcohol-awareness-week/take-part-in-alcohol-awareness-week

25/06/2025

𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦, 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫.

From summer sundowners with colleagues, to weekend events with family, this time of year we can't escape the sight of alcohol being consumed and advertised all around us. In this final free article in our series, our Trustee Dr. Janine Brooks and Clinical Lead Richard Jones set out the triggers of alcohol overconsumption and effects of addiction.

> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-024-2950-0

Free for all to access and read until 29th June 2025 in BDJ In Practice thanks to BDJ Portfolio, and for all British Dental Association members ongoing.

If you've been impacted by any of the articles we've shared, or know a colleague or loved one that could do with some expert confidential advice - totally free - then get in touch with us, we're here to help.

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16/06/2025

"𝑰 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰'𝒎 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚."

"𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒙𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆."

From dabbling to dependency - substance misuse often starts small, but can go from occasional to daily impact rapidly. We've helped countless dental colleagues who've found themselves dealing with substance misuse, whether it started to fit in socially, to manage stress, or one of many other reasons besides. In our latest free article, learn more about how substance misuse develops, and how to get help for you, a colleague, or a loved one.

> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-024-2880-x

Free for all to access and read until 22nd June 2025, and for all BDA members ongoing, the article is part of a series written by our Trustee Dr. Janine Brooks MBE and Clinical Lead Richard Jones. Read it, share it, and drop us a line if you're impacted and need support.

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11/06/2025

"I'm feeling depressed." Or "I'm feeling down." Or "I'm not feeling quite myself."

Depression can manifest in many ways and is a unique experience for each individual. It can also be managed in many different ways. In this article we authored for BDJ In Practice, we look at depression in dentistry to help you understand it, recognise it, and help you take the first steps to managing it.

> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-024-2842-3

Free for all to access and read until 15th June 2025, and for all BDA members ongoing, the article is part of a series written by our Trustee Dr. Janine Brooks MBE and Clinical Lead Richard Jones. Over the coming weeks we'll be opening access to different articles in the series - covering topics including substance misuse, and alcohol issues.

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02/06/2025

Receiving a patient complaint can be amongst the most destablising of experiences for any dentist.

The anxiety a complaint, or fear of a complaint, can provoke is something we've helped lots of our dental colleagues manage via our helpline, and we've also shared some tools and tips in this article we authored for BDJ In Practice.

> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-024-2747-1

Free for all to access and read until 8th June 2025, and for all BDA members ongoing, the article is part of a series written by our Trustee Janine Brooks MBE and Clinical Lead Richard Jones. Over the next 4 weeks we will be opening access to a different article in the series each week - covering topics including managing the anxiety of a complaint, substance misuse, and alcohol.

27/05/2025

Free for all to access and read until 1st June 2025, we're grateful to the BDJ In Practice team for making this article available so that all dentists and dental teams can get a better understanding of what anxiety is, how we can recognise it, and then go on to manage it.

> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-024-2717-7

The article is part of a series written by our Trustee Dr. Janine Brooks and Clinical Lead Richard Jones, and over the next 5 weeks we will be opening access to a different article in the series each week - covering topics including managing the anxiety of a complaint, substance misuse, and alcohol.

Please take the opportunity to read them, share with colleagues, and get in touch with us if you'd like more information about what we do, if you or a colleague need support, or just to share your thoughts - as fellow dentists we value your engagement. www.dentistshealthsupporttrust.org

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12/05/2025

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, with a focus on celebrating the power and importance of community.

Community is at the very heart of what we do at the Dentists' Health Support Trust. We were founded over 30 years ago by a group of dentists who recognised that dentists face unique circumstances that can impact their mental health and wellbeing, and need specialised support.

And we're still here, available 365 days a year for dentists across the UK who need support with their mental health, wellbeing, and alcohol or drug issues.

So be part of our community and tell your friends, colleagues, and families who are in the dental field about us, spread the word and help us make sure all dentists are aware of the support available to them.

27/03/2025

A sobering note from the team at Rethink Mental Illness. With NHS provision tighter than ever, we're grateful to all of our supporters whose fundraising allows us to provide free and confidential mental health and wellbeing services to dentists across the UK.

Find out how to support our work, or make a donation, on our website: https://www.dentistshealthsupporttrust.org/support/

And if you, or someone you know, needs help then please get in touch - we're here 365 days of the year.

03/01/2025

"𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙝𝙤𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙡, 𝙨𝙤 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙝𝙤𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙝𝙤𝙡, 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙩, 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚."

At this time of year resolutions to cut back on alcohol, or participate in Dry January are common. However if there's a pattern of overconsumption we know it's not that easy to just stop. In their latest article for BDJ in Practice, our Trustee Dr. Janine Brooks and Clinical Lead Richard Jones set out the effect that too much alcohol, an addiction to it, can cause.

Access to the article is free for members of the British Dental Association, simply login to your BDA account for access.
The article link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-024-2950-0

If you, or someone you know, needs support with reducing their alcohol consumption, we're here to help.

13/12/2024

Our Clinical Lead Richard Jones provided a training session covering CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) to members of Dental Mentors UK as part of their commitment to upskill their team.

We're pleased to be able to share our expertise with organisations who also have the goal of supporting dentists in the UK. Thank you to all who attended!

03/12/2024

"Shame remains a huge barrier to seeking support with addiction problems."

Addiction Awareness Week is in full swing, and the findings from this UK-wide survey found that shame stops those with addiction problems from getting the help needed - especially from their employer.

We're here to help, as a truly independent support service for dentists by dentists.

Addiction affects everyone, but recovery is possible.

Shame still remains the main barrier preventing individuals from seeking support. 💔

Our poll revealed 21% - 43% of people who have experienced addiction or dependency, say that the feeling of shame would prevent them from seeking support from one or more of the nine named support sources.

Worryingly this included employers and GPs.

These poll results highlight a real urgency for change. We can remove the barrier of shame that is preventing people from accessing support.

Addiction is a serious mental health issue. By challenging stigma and fostering empathy, we can create a society where seeking help feels possible and safe for everyone.

Addiction Affects Everyone BUT Recovery Is Possible. 💙

Read our poll news story and find support on our new website.

takingactiononaddiction.org.uk