Down and Out, or Down and About? Raising awareness of mental health issues in dentistry.

A plethora of mental health issues plague our society today and the dental community is not immune. Dental professionals encounter multiple stressors in the workplace which may result in significant anxiety, depression, and other emotional outcomes. The evidence concerning mental health issues nationwide and among dental professionals will be presented in this course along with signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Management and treatment strategies will be discussed, including a stepwise approach for coping with stress. Observing signs and symptoms in our patients and strategies to assist them is also included in the course. The knowledge obtained in the session can be utilized in personal as well as patient care for achieving whole body health in ourselves and our patients.