The Working Mind
Oral Healthcare Professionals

The first sector-specific mental health training created for the oral health care profession in Canada.

The Working Mind: Oral Healthcare is an evidence-based, five-hour program developed in direct partnership with the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. As CDA President Dr. Heather Carr puts it, "The course provides a safe space for oral health professionals to explore the importance of maintaining positive mental health in their workplace." The MHCC adapted the program from Road to Mental Readiness, a Canadian Armed Forces program, and the continuum model and coping skills at its core come from there.

Dental and hygiene schools have traditionally focused on clinical skill, rarely including courses on mental health, coping, or stress management. Graduates enter a demanding profession where they spend their days working in inches, maintaining intense technical precision in close proximity to patients who are anxious or in pain, while absorbing complex patient dynamics and the pressures of running a practice. No amount of technical training prepares you for that kind of emotional weight. This course was built to close that gap.

$250 per person. 5 hours. Virtual. Canada-wide.

Book Your Spot

Don't see a date that works? Get in touch. Token is happy to arrange additional sessions for your practice, including in-person delivery. Hello@ateliermhl.ca

58%
of dentists report moderate to high levels of stress in their practice

Canadian Dental Association, 2018

50% / 37%
of female and male dentists in Canada respectively report experiencing mental health challenges

Maragha et al., JDR Clinical and Translational Research, UBC / University of Ottawa, 2025

First
The Working Mind - Oral Care is the first sector-specific mental health training built for the oral health care profession in Canada


Opening Minds / Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2023

The Curriculum

  • Developed jointly by the Canadian Dental Association and the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the curriculum is built around the actual scenarios and industry realities unique to dental practices. It's delivered by a facilitator with over 20 years of experience as a mental health provider. It integrates real-world video testimonials and case studies from oral healthcare professionals sharing their lived experiences with mental health challenges and recovery. This keeps the strategies practical, relatable, and instantly applicable to the daily rhythm of a busy clinic.

  • We address the traditional "perfectionist" culture within dentistry that often views vulnerability or stress as personal failure. This module introduces the core concepts of mental health and substance use, breaking down how stigma creates invisible barriers to seeking help within a tight-knit clinic team.

  • We take the guesswork out of well-being by introducing a practical, color-coded spectrum tool for all to use. Staff learn how to spot early, subtle changes in behavior - moving from healthy to reacting or injured - giving the entire practice a shared, objective language to check in on one another safely and naturally.

  • During this module we focus on the specific chronic stressors of the dental sector, from physical ergonomics and rigid scheduling demands to managing secondary anxiety from patients. This is a practical session where participants actively learn and practice the Big 4 Coping Strategies to protect their daily resilience.

  • Our final module is centered on safe communication and healthy workplace boundaries. Using the RAMP framework, you’ll practice how to confidently offer support to a colleague showing signs of distress and learn how to navigate professional connections to resources without stepping outside your role as a peer.

    Please note
    For prevention purposes, this course includes content on suicide awareness. Verbal trigger warnings are provided prior to discussing this material to ensure a safe, supportive learning environment for everyone.

Reduces stigma
creating space for mental health conversations that feel safe and professional

Builds resilience
with the RAMP framework and Big 4 Coping Strategies adapted for oral health care environments

Creates shared language
so the whole team - dentists, hygienists, and office staff - can support each other openly

Book Your Working Mind Training

Oral health professionals spend their days caring for others with precision and skill. This course turns that same care toward themselves, and creates space to talk about it without judgment.