We’re here with you and for you!

The AMA's Physician and Family Support Program acknowledges the uncertainty, insecurity and frustration physicians are feeling in our current environment.

As always, your well-being and health is our top concern.

We have curated this list of resources to help you with attending to your wellness.

Medical student support for health care workers

Need help with childcare, groceries, pet care, pharmacy runs or other errands? Medical students from the Universities of Alberta and Calgary are volunteering to help health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information and to sign up for services, please use the respective forms below.

Drop-in Call for Physicians

These are for peer support among colleagues dealing with the impacts of COVID19, not psychiatric care. Drop in for as often and as long as you want.

Dr. Mamta Gautam

See the Canadian Society of Physician leaders message “Ensuring Our Own Wellbeing as We Care for Others During the COVID-19 Crisis”.

  • Time: Daily 4 p.m. EST, seven days a week
  • To access: Please email Dr. Gautam for the Zoom link: mgautam@rogers.com.

Ontario Medical Association (OMA)

The OMA wellness Hub has featured Dr. Joy Albuquerque, MD, MA, FRCP to talk about “Managing stress during COVID-19”

Resident Conversations

  • Time: Wednesday nights 9 p.m. EST
  • To access: Email DM@javeedsukhera to learn how you can join the conversation.

Podcasts and Videos

Physician Wellness Podcast: A Three Part Series

A multi-part joint podcast series from Well Doc Alberta and the Alberta Medical Association’s Physician and Family Support Program.

Throughout this series Dr. Jane Lemaire and Dr. Terrie Brandon are joined by Fleur Yumol, a clinical social worker and the administrator of the AMA's PFSP 24-hour support line, to discuss strategies to promote physician wellness during the pandemic.

  • Self-Awareness: More Important Than Ever
  • Empathy and Compassion: Offering What We Can During COVID-19
  • Staying Connected: Emotional Connection Amidst Physical Distancing

Understanding and coping with stress, distress & trauma

Dr. Bruce Perry MD PhD discusses stress, distress and how the pattern of stress can determine whether stress is destructive (sensitizing) or positive (resilience building). Focus on the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Three steps to coping with anything – evidenced based framework

Drs. Bob Maunder and Jon Hunter made this 7 minute “chalkboard talk” video to help their hospital colleagues cope with COVID-19, it’s based on their adaptation of the evidenced-based framework developed by S. Folkman and S. Greer.

Articles and Websites

Royal College Physicians and Surgeons

Canadian Society of Physician Leaders

BMJ - "Managing mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during covid-19 pandemic"

Ontario Medical Association (OMA)

Well Doc Alberta

Access Education Bulletins regarding:

  • Physician Wellness During COVID-19 – The Basics
  • Helping Each Other Through the Pandemic: Providing Informal Physician-to-Physician Peer Support
  • Mindfulness for Physicians During COVID-19

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

As Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital, CAMH sets the standards for care, research, education and leading social change. Resources here are not specifically for physicians.

For issues or feedback about these resources, please email pfsp@albertadoctors.org.

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.