Skip to main content
News
Feb. 28, 2024

Group mutual support pilot project

Apply to be a group participant now

The OMA is organizing a group mutual support initiative for physicians across the province with support from the Canadian Medical Association. These groups will offer space for supportive conversations between individuals who have shared personal or professional experiences. Mutual support has been demonstrated to improve mental health and well-being.

The project aims to organize one mutual support group in each district and two virtual groups. Each group will be comprised of four to 12 physicians who apply to participate and commit for the duration of the pilot. Groups will come together to discuss and share experiences in a guided but free-form format.

While the initiative aims mainly to organize in-person, virtual groups will also be available to support regions where geography is a barrier and to encourage participation from individuals who cannot accommodate in-person meetings. No hybrid groups will be available. Groups will determine the frequency and duration they meet (ideally at least once per month). The groups will be supported by the OMA to operate for 12 months.

The OMA will evaluate the implementation and impact of these mutual support groups for physicians with the intention of publication to raise awareness among the medical community of the impacts of group-based mutual support.

Group facilitator applications now closed
Previous
Next
Group facilitator applications now closed

Previous
Next
Apply to be a group participant
Engage in discussions about the experience of being a physician
Previous
Next
Apply to be a group participant
Engage in discussions about the experience of being a physician

The OMA is seeking participants for local peer support groups. Interested individuals should be willing to join a group of peers and engage in productive, healthy discussions about the experience of being a physician, approximately monthly.

If you are currently completing the Quality Improvement Program for Individuals with CPSO, you could use participating in a support group as a physician wellness quality improvement goal.

Apply now.

Role and responsibilities

Each peer support group will have four to 12 members, including a single designated facilitator for the duration of the pilot. Group members will be expected to:

  • Commit to participating in the majority of group peer support sessions for the duration of the pilot
  • Engage in group discussion during the sessions, sharing your experiences as appropriate within the group
  • Participate in evaluation activities, including the collection of baseline information and follow-up feedback at two points in time. Each participant will receive $500 as compensation for completing two evaluation surveys

How to apply

If you are interested in participating, complete this form. The form will ask for your:  

  • Full name
  • Specialty
  • Location (city or town)
  • OMA district
  • Preferred email
  • Preferred phone number

The form will also ask you to provide answers to the following questions: 

  1. Why do you want to participate in a peer support group?
  2. Do you want to participate in an in-person or virtual group or either?
  3. How do you think you would benefit from participating in a peer support group?

The selection process

Applications will be reviewed, and then 11 participants will be randomly selected for each group. We thank all interested applicants; however, space is limited to 11 participants per group plus one facilitator.

Previous
Next

This initiative is made possible with the support of the following organizations:

Back to top