Dentists' Health Support Trust

18/10/2025

Today's the day! We're in awe of Tom Summerscales who is running a 100-mile Ultramarathon to raise money for the DHST and other charities supporting healthcare workers. If you'd like show your support for Tom you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/team/healthcareultrafunds

GO TOM!

13/10/2025

It's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we're honoured once again to be able to support our dentist community by sharing our expertise in an article for BDJ In Practice. Our Trustee Catherine Rutland raises awareness of the different kinds of domestic abuse and the support available to dentists across the UK.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-025-3286-0

It's free to read, so please do, and share with your teams so that we can ensure all colleagues have access to the information and support they might need.

10/10/2025

𝑨 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅, 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝑱𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔:
"On this World Mental Health Day, it's important to remember that mental health and addiction are not selective in who they impact. Today we're sharing some resources that the Mental Health Foundation have created in response to this year's theme, highlighting the importance of people being able to focus on and protect their mental health in times of global instability. We know our UK dentist community has worldwide connections, and we're here to support you all year round."

See more from the Mental Health Foundation here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/world-mental-health-day

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.