Understanding mental health

Suki Singh talks to Lauren Harrhy about mental health awareness and what more can be done.

SS: You have been heavily involved in helping dentists who have struggled with mental health issues, and your group, Mental Dental, has done a lot to raise awareness of the subject. We have also seen the formation of a number of other mental health organisations in dentistry; how do you think awareness has improved in recent years?

LH: I think, for a long time, there was a stigma around dentists suffering with their mental health and not an awful lot was done about it. However, over the last few years, we have seen a real increase in awareness and a reduction in the stigma some people associate with mental health.

We are seeing dentists and people in the profession who are now more willing to stand up and say that they are suffering and that they need help, and that is really good to see.