Pause for Thought (P4T)

A health and wellbeing initiative for junior doctors

Throughout the year MIPS is committed to working with hospitals to provide education programs and support across many disciplines. Our primary focus is to assist healthcare practitioners through their careers; supporting their wellbeing and limiting their exposure to professional risk. One of the primary ways in which we have been able to accomplish these goals is through our main wellbeing initiative - Pause for Thought (P4T).

The main aim of the P4T initiative is to give each of our junior healthcare practitioners the permission to stop and take a moment for themselves. It has been proven time and time again that focussing on mental health and wellbeing not only improves concentration and motivation, but it also has a significant impact on lessening the risks to which doctors might be exposed.

Some of the MIPS events undertaken within this initiative are: ‘Paws’ for Thought, group painting sessions, MIPS cupcakes, morning tea and the wishing tree of hope to name a few. We also are keen supporters of Crazy Socks 4 Docs and Emergency Wellness Week.  See how you can get involved and support some great initiatives.

‘Paws’ for Thought

This set of events provides a unique experience for junior doctors to help them take a moment to reflect and enjoy time, to interact with their colleagues and give back to the community. Each element of this experience is critical to an individual's own wellbeing.

This initiative is executed in the lead up to Christmas in the spirit of the holiday season. Doctors pause to dress stuffed toy animals, write messages of hope and well wishes and then distribute the bears to patients before Christmas.

Since its inception of the program over 1000 bears from Australia’s Build-a-Bear workshops were donated in time for Christmas.

Crazy Socks 4 Docs

For that one day in June, Australia recognises the enormous contribution our healthcare practitioners make to society. This is a day that allows us to get the conversation around mental health started and to reduce the stigma associated with healthcare practitioners seeking help when experiencing mental health issues.

MIPS sponsors a number of hospital events to commemorate this day. If you would like us to sponsor a morning tea or have some cupcakes delivered to encourage your doctors to ‘pause for thought’ then please express your interest in the form below and we will be in touch very soon.

In 2020, we are asking all hospitals who would like us to sponsor an event, to send in messages to their colleagues. Use the message cards we send you, write a message of encouragement or gratitude, post on social media and tag us #mipscrazysocks4docs #pauseforthought #P4T

Emergency Wellness Week

Wellness Week focuses on the relationship between staff wellbeing and patient care delivery, including safety outcomes; this aligns well with our focus of ensuring the health and wellbeing of our practitioners allowing those working in Emergency. We hope that our support allows these practitioners to pause for thought.