Dentist Dr Mahrukh Khwaja has written a book called Resilience and well-being for dental professionals, designed to be essential reading for dental professionals and other healthcare workers wanting to build emotional resilience and positive mental health.

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Dr Khwaja is a positive psychologist, accredited mindfulness teacher and the founder of Mind Ninja, an award-winning wellness start-up dedicated to improving mental health and resilience among dental professionals.

Dentistry is a high-stress vocation with elevated rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Chronic workplace stress is a growing concern as it can severely damage the mental health of dental professionals and negatively impact their ability to provide appropriate care. Psychological interventions have been shown to greatly benefit the wellbeing and emotional resilience of the medical and healthcare community, yet resources that provide preventative tools are limited.

Topics within the book include managing difficult emotions, mindfulness and self-compassion, training the brain for maximum happiness, developing a culture of kindness and gratitude at work, utilising a growth mindset when upskilling, harnessing positive leadership and using strengths with patients and at home.

A review of Resilience and well-being for dental professionals will be published in BDJ Team later this month.