Supporting Physician Well-being and Mental Health Clinical Skill Development: Evaluation of Mental Health Skills Groups for Physicians

AI Summary

8-week virtual CBT skills groups for 698 physicians significantly improved professional fulfilment, reduced burnout, and increased resiliency (pre-post P < .001).
Improvements persisted at one-year follow-up for fulfilment and resiliency, with further reductions in burnout (burnout P = .016).
Participants reported active use of skills clinically and personally, felt energised in work, and would recommend the programme.

AI Summary

Burnout among Canadian Family Physicians (FPs) is a significant concern, as is their lack of capacity and skillset in supporting patients' mental health conditions in clinics.

This article reports evaluation results of an 8-week group-based mental health skills program delivered virtually to 698 physicians in British Columbia with the dual objectives of (1) providing skills physicians can use to support patients experiencing mental health concerns and (2) supporting physician wellness.

The CBT Skills Mental Health Physician Groups Program is effective at supporting physicians' personal and professional well-being and mental health upskilling, with participants highly valuing the program.

Basic summary

Healthc Manage Forum. 2026 Jul 4:8404704261465771. doi: 10.1177/08404704261465771. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Burnout among Canadian Family Physicians (FPs) is a significant concern, as is their lack of capacity and skillset in supporting patients’ mental health conditions in clinics. This article reports evaluation results of an 8-week group-based mental health skills program delivered virtually to 698 physicians in British Columbia with the dual objectives of (1) providing skills physicians can use to support patients experiencing mental health concerns and (2) supporting physician wellness. A mixed methods approach was employed. Professional Fulfilment (PF), Burnout (BO), and resiliency outcomes were assessed at pre-, post- and 1-year follow-up using the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index and the Brief Resiliency Scale (resiliency). An anonymous survey was administered upon completion of the program, and again at 1-year follow-up to assess learning outcomes and program value. Twelve participants provided additional feedback through focus groups and interviews. Participants were primarily family physicians working in urban settings. Pre- to post-paired t-test results showed improvements for professional fulfilment (P < .001), burnout (P < .001), and resiliency (P < .001), with no loss in gains at 1-year follow-up for professional fulfilment (P = .202) and resiliency (P = .184), and further improvements in burnout (P = .016). Participants agreed that the program energized them in their work and that they would recommend the program to colleagues. Most were actively using the mental health skills in their professional and personal lives at 1-year follow-up. The CBT Skills Mental Health Physician Groups Program is effective at supporting physicians’ personal and professional well-being and mental health upskilling, with participants highly valuing the program.

PMID:42400336 | DOI:10.1177/08404704261465771

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