Anxiety, stress and mental wellbeing are high up the public agenda at the moment but should optometry be giving or receiving help on the issue?
Everyone from the young royals to the Prime Minister has flagged it as an overlooked issue that needs to be taken seriously and properly funded.
Deaths related to anxiety have risen by half in the past three years to over 3,000. It is an issue governments have provided funding for but it suffers a lack of understanding inside the NHS. Former care minister Norman Lamb was recently reported as saying much of the additional £1.4bn given to the NHS for mental health services was diverted to prop up other services.
When compared with other job types optometry enjoys a very low stress to high earnings ratio. The US Business Insider report rates it as the 19th least stressful, higher pay profession. Optician’s own workplace survey shows part-time working, career breaks and work-life balance are chosen over salary. Anxiety and stress among patients may well be higher than within the profession.
Last week, 7 Days reported on the AOP’s latest initiative on the topic. It put out a call for its members to offer peer to peer support on a voluntary basis for professionals and students suffering from stress or anxiety. Is this taking the issue seriously?
Peer support may play a part but given the AOP receives £7.6m from eye care professionals each year, don’t they deserve professional help from mental health professionals?
There is also an opportunity for the AOP to invest in training for eye care professionals, to enable them to recognise and understand stress, anxiety and mental health issues among their own patients.
Optometry may have a greater role dispensing help surrounding stress than in receiving it.