I am writing in response to the Editor’s Comment, ‘Taking mental health challenges seriously’.
The response to the AOP about our initiative to launch a Peer Support Line has been overwhelmingly positive, both from our members and others across the optical sector – with many saying that this is a service they would use or would have liked to have used in the past.
The Peer Support Line, which will launch in May 2017, responds to the need for a different kind of support for those working in the profession who have worries that fall outside of our established legal, clinical or regulatory advice. This service was born out of direct feedback from our members who told us they regularly experience stress due to pressures in practice.
This anecdotal evidence is further supported by the results of our recent survey into the wellbeing of optometrists in the UK in which, more than half reported they frequently work to tight deadlines and 63% said they do not have enough time to balance work and family responsibilities.
To help alleviate these concerns, the Peer Support Line has been set up to provide a sector specific network which allows callers to have confidential access to trained volunteers who understand the pressures of optical practice. This is an established and proven model in other professions such as Listening Friends for pharmacists and the Vetlife Helpline for the veterinary profession. The AOP is utilising the best practice techniques of those who have already successfully implemented this kind of service, and drawing on the expertise of the experienced trainers who have worked with them.
The Peer Support Line is part of a series of initiatives that the AOP will be delivering to put health and wellbeing firmly on the agenda for optics to ensure our optical professionals are supported.