Recognising the importance of raising awareness for mental health initiatives and fostering a sense of community and solidarity, Optometry Australia has announced its participation in the Push Up Challenge throughout June.
The peak professional body is inviting its members and staff to join the “Eye opt to push up” community, uniting with colleagues and peers within the eye health sector to contribute to raising awareness and money for Lifeline, by completing 3,144 push-ups during the month of June, in recognition of the number of Australians who lost their lives to suicide in 2021.
Optometry Australia’s chief clinical officer, Mr Luke Arundel, said by joining the Push Up Challenge, the organisation aims to raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing while actively supporting Lifeline’s critical work.
“It’s important to note the Push Up Challenge isn’t just about ‘push-ups’. Participants can complete any health-related activity – this might be squats, walking or minutes meditating – as we break down some of the stigma of talking about mental health,” he said.
“We encourage our members to come together as a community through this initiative, supporting one another and fostering an environment of compassion and understanding,” he said. “By collectively addressing mental health challenges, the optometry sector can work towards creating a resilient and supportive professional community.”
Optometry Australia is acting on its concerns about the mental health and wellbeing of its members, in light of recent findings from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), and studies conducted before and during COVID-19.
A report released earlier this year by Ahpra from an expert advisory group revealed that between January 2018 and December 2021, 16 practitioners suicided while involved in regulatory processes or investigations, and an additional four practitioners attempted suicide or engaged in self-harming behaviours.
Ahpra’s report adds to data obtained in late 2019 when a team of researchers from QUT conducted a large, cross-sectional survey of Australian optometrists, using well established mental health scales.
The results they found listed prevalence of depression and anxiety and moderate to severe psychological distress at 31%. Prevalence of high burnout was 56% and optometrists aged 30 years or under were 3.5 times more likely to report moderate to severe psychological distress compared to optometrists aged over 30 years.
In March 2023, Lifeline advised its suicide prevention and general help lines had set new records for requests for help, with cost of living the latest problem eclipsing issues encountered during the pandemic.
Optometry Australia said the disturbing figures from these studies underscore the pressing need for increased mental health support within the Australian optometry sector, and is determined to play an active role in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of its members.
In addition to its commitment to the Push Up Challenge, the organisation provides a range of services to assist members in maintaining their mental health. These include a Member Assistance Program, which is a free and confidential service for Optometry Australia members, enabling them access to up to three coaching and counselling sessions over a 12-month period, aimed at strengthening mental resilience and wellbeing.
There is also a suite of tailored resources available for members, including a series of webcasts and podcasts, as well as a curated bank of tools developed to address burnout and mental health. The resources also include a Mental Health First Aid Course, designed to help members recognise and appropriately triage patients suffering from mental health issues into appropriate care.
Finally, the Optometry Advisor Help Desk is available to support its members with complex issues – from Ahpra investigations to Medicare audits, medico issues to major sector change. The aim is to provide independent and unbiased advice, with complete confidentiality and without judgement, helping members navigate the challenging aspects of the job.
Optometry Australia invites the entire optometric sector to join in participating in the Push Up Challenge by joining the “Eye opt to push up” group, and help to raise funds for Lifeline, ensuring that crucial support services are available to those in need.
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