Media Releases and Opportunities

A Dalhousie University researcher has developed a simple, anonymous and accessible program aimed at supporting the mental health of physicians, residents and medical students across Canada who may be experiencing burnout, anxiety and depression.

Dr. Vincent Agyapong, head of Dalhousie's Department of Psychiatry and Chief of Psychiatry for Nova Scotia Health's Central Zone and the lead researcher, is hoping to help manage these pressures with Wellness4MDs, a new program that will deliver daily supportive text messages in English or French to anonymous subscribers for six months at no cost.

The text messages are based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles and were developed by psychiatrists, mental health therapists, clinical psychologists and mental-health service users. Messages will also include links to mental health resources that could help improve their resilience and mental well-being.

Physicians, residents and medical students in Canada can subscribe to the program by texting “WELLMD” for English access or “BIENMD” for French access to 1-855-947-4673. Subscribers can opt in to participate in the program evaluation by completing surveys when they begin the program and at designated follow-up times.

Dr. Agyapong is available to discuss how this new program builds on the success of his team's other message-based mental-health programs, which have been shown to improve clinical symptoms.

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Media contact:

Alison Auld
Senior Research Reporter
Communications, Marketing and Creative Services
Dalhousie University  
Cell: 1-902-220-0491  
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca