Here at the Christian Dental Fellowship, we seek to help and support any colleagues in the dental profession who wish to talk about the issues and challenges they are facing in their personal and professional lives, where we can, with friendship and sign-posting to professional services and groups.
We are not a counselling or professional listening service, however, we are happy to hear from you, encourage you, signpost where appropriate and pray when requested with you or for you.
We also have a Prayer Team which is very happy to pray for specific prayer needs. We are happy to pray with you if you so wish; we can do that on the phone or pass your prayer needs down our prayer team, all with your consent. We believe in the power of prayer through the name of Jesus Christ.
If you would like to get in contact with the Pastoral Care or Prayer Team at the Christian Dental Fellowship, please contact us here.
Peer Support Scheme
CDF has always been a place where our faith and dentistry merge together, where you can chat to like-minded, faith-led dental professionals. Peer, pastoral and prayer support are available informally through CDF regional groups, and meetings, and at conference, but there may be times when this is not possible or appropriate.
CDF has both a Pastoral Care Scheme and a Prayer Support Scheme for members to access. In addition, we have put in place a Peer Support Scheme to further support our members in this area.
What is peer support? ‘People who share common experiences or face similar challenges come together as equals to give and receive help, based on the knowledge that comes through shared experience.’
If you would like to access the scheme, please feel free to email peersupport@cdf-uk.org, detailing the area you would like peer support in. Our Peer Support Coordinator will then put you in touch with a fellow member who would be happy to informally chat with you, and/ or signpost you to additional professional services where appropriate.
Please be mindful that CDF Peer Support Scheme is not a professional mentoring service but a friendly, informal buddying scheme. CDF or its workers are not liable for any informal advice given.
We hope you will feel free to use this service and find it helpful.
Margaret Reynolds (Pastoral and Peer Support Coordinator)
Prayer for our profession
On the first Saturday of each month at 10am we hold a prayer meeting over the Internet using Zoom. Please use the contact us page for more details.
External support links
- Dental Health Support Trust – provides dental professionals with free support and advice on metal health, alcohol and drug issues
- Confidental – provides emotional first aid for dentists in distress. Allows you to offload and talk through your issues in complete confidence, then offering signposting to further useful organisations if appropriate.
- NHS Practitioner Health – a free and confidential service for doctors and dentists across England with mental illness and addition problems who are working or looking to return to clinical practice.
- HEE Midlands and East Mental Health and Wellbeing – Mental health and wellbeing courses commissioned by the HEE Midlands and East Dental School.
- Mind Matters – NHS website on mental health
- Mind and Soul Foundation – “Our faith and emotions are often kept separate. Mental health is rarely discussed in churches and Christian spirituality is seen as having little to offer the world of psychology. We want to bridge that gap.”
- Renew Wellbeing – Renew Wellbeing helps churches open spaces of welcome and inclusion in partnership with mental health teams to improve mental and emotional wellbeing
- Church of England – supporting good mental health
- Christian Medical Fellowship
- International Christian Medical and Dental Association
- Samaritans
- The Canmore Trust – promoting suicide awareness and support
- The BDA Benevolent fund – providing support for refugee and asylum seeking dentists
