Wellness Survey
We realize that trainees and physicians, despite functioning at a high level at school or work, may be dealing with personal and emotional challenges. This program was created to offer confidential support and resources to those in need.
- Provide confidential, online assessment of stress, depression and other related issues
- Make personalized referrals to local mental health clinicians and other community resources
All medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty members are encouraged to complete the brief, online questionnaire to find out how stress and depression may be affecting them. After completing the questionnaire, one of our experienced program counselors will send you an assessment with any recommendations for further evaluation or follow-up. Again, this service is completely anonymous and confidential.
We hope to learn more about the impact and effectiveness of this clinical program. If you complete the online Wellness Survey and meet with one of our project clinicians for further evaluation and referral, you will be asked to take part in this study. All services provided (evaluation, support, and referral) are still available to each person who visits the clinician even if you choose not to participate in the study. All information used for research purposes will be de-identified. More information about the project will be discussed during the consent stage.
**THIS IS NOT A CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICE**
If you are in crisis, please call 911 or 800-273-TALK
Select the Wellness Survey button (at the top of this page). You will be directed to create a User ID (must be at least 8 characters and must include a combination of numbers and letters) and password. Make note of your User ID and password because you will need it to log back into the website. To help maintain your confidentiality, we suggest that you do not use any part of your first or last name in your User ID.
Once you have established a username and password, you will be directed to the secure online Stress & Depression Questionnaire.
- Complete confidential questionnaire. This should take you approximately five minutes. Skip any questions that you do not want to answer.
- Provide your email address (optional)*
- Return to website for counselor’s assessment.
*Note: At the end of the questionnaire, you will be asked to provide your email address which is optional. The purpose of providing your email is so that the computer system can notify you when a counselor has reviewed your questionnaire and posted a response for you. Your email address will be encrypted in the computer and will not be revealed to anyone, including the counselor.
Please Note: If you have taken the Wellness Survey in the past and would like to retake the survey, you will need to register as a new user. To do this, please access the main Wellness Survey webpage, click on the “sign up” link, and follow the prompts to create a new User ID and password. From there, you can take a new survey.
We hope that you will take advantage of this important and confidential way of finding out how stress or depression may be affecting you.
A clinician will review your questionnaire and will leave a personal response for you on the website, which you may access at your convenience. If you have provided your e-mail address, you will receive an e-mail message alerting you to log-in to receive your response.
The response will include an assessment and any recommendations for further evaluation or follow-up. You may exchange online messages with the clinician, and if you wish, set up a face-to-face meeting for further evaluation and to talk about recommendations and opportunities that you may find helpful.
If you do not provide us your e-mail address, you will be told after submitting your questionnaire when to return to the survey website to access the clinician's response. Please make a record of the Website address along with your User ID and password. Remember, the questionnaire and all communication are done through a secure website.
Everyone who submits the screening questionnaire will receive a personalized online response and will have the opportunity to engage in anonymous online communications with the clinician. No other follow-up services will be provided unless you specifically request them.
Since your responses and all other information you communicate through the website will be identified only with the User ID you assign to yourself, your identity will be fully protected. The clinician will not know your name unless you choose to share it.
If you choose to provide your e-mail address, it will be encrypted/scrambled into our system to protect your identity and will not be made available to anyone.
De-identified information may be used as aggregated data for purposes of physician well-being research and education. Your identification will never be known or connected to any data.
Q. If I see a therapist, will my license be in jeopardy?
A. Not likely. The 1990 enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and subsequent case law have established that medical board screening of physician licensure applicants for histories of mental illness or substance use may constitute discrimination. The current California Medical License application asks the following question related to mental health treatment: “Have you been diagnosed with an emotional, a mental, or behavioral disorder which impairs your ability to practice medicine safely.” So, it appears that if you have not been impaired by a mental or physical illness, your license should not be in jeopardy. Below is the link to the current U.S. or Canadian Medical School Graduate Application for licensure, if you wish to read the specific language: http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Forms/Applicants/application_us-canada.pdf
Q. Who will see my completed Stress and Depression Questionnaire?
A. One of UC Davis Medical Center’s Employee Assistance Program counselors if you are a faculty member/resident/fellow, or a counselor with Student Health Counseling Services (SHCS) if you are a medical student, and possibly a member of the Medical Staff Well-Being Committee will be reviewing and responding to your questionnaire. Your identity is completely protected unless you choose to share it. The counselor will only be able to see the username that you have created and your answers to the questionnaire. If you prefer, you can remain completely anonymous during the entire assessment and referral process. In addition, if you provide an email address, it will be encrypted in the system and will not be revealed under any circumstances.
Q. I’m worried that my colleague may be depressed; what can I do to help?
A. You only need to listen, care, and offer resource/referral information. We would suggest that you meet privately with your colleague, and express your concern and caring. Mention the behaviors you have observed that have caused your concern. Listen attentively and without judgment to your colleague’s response and encourage him/her to talk. If you are concerned about your colleague’s safety, ask if they are considering suicide. A colleague that is seriously considering suicide will be relieved that you asked. Don’t worry, asking about suicide will not put the idea in your colleague’s head. Ask your colleague what they think would help them to feel better. Suggest resources that you think would be helpful and/or refer them to this program. They can take the online screening questionnaire, or just call one of the Employee Assistance counselors directly for support if you are a faculty member/resident/fellow, or Student Health Counseling Services (SHCS) directly for support if you are a medical student, and a personalized referral to a mental health provider can be made, if they are interested.
Q. I do not want to reveal my identity; can I still get help?
A. Yes. You can dialogue with the counselor using your username as your only identifying information. Or, you can call or meet with a counselor and you do not need to ever give your name, department, etc.
Q. For medical students: If I get help, will it be recorded in my academic record or dean’s letter?
A. No. None of this will happen. There will be no record of this in your academic record and no mention in your Dean’s letter.
Q. I don’t want to be on medication, but does therapy work?
A. Research has shown that both antidepressant medications and psychotherapy are highly effective treatments. There is also evidence that people who receive psychotherapy continue to improve even after therapy ends.