Addressing mental health challenges within the veterinary profession requires a proactive approach, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like suicide. In this episode, we explore crucial resources designed to support veterinary team members and enhance their wellbeing during the most difficult times.

We’ll dive into the AVMA’s After a Suicide documents and Suicide Prevention Document, as well as the AAVMC Suicide Prevention Awareness Toolkit. These resources offer comprehensive guidelines and practical tools for managing and supporting teams affected by suicide. Additionally, we discuss the importance of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing as a key component in providing immediate support and fostering resilience.

Join us as we break down these essential resources, focusing on their role in creating a supportive, informed, and resilient work environment. Whether you’re a veterinary team member, manager, or leader, this episode provides valuable insights into implementing these resources effectively and supporting your team’s mental health and wellbeing.

Resources
After a Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces (PDF): https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/After-a-Suicide-A-Guide-for-Veterinary-Workplaces.pdf

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Colleges of Veterinary Medicine (PDF): https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/After-a-Suicide-Veterinary-Colleges.pdf

Suicide Prevention Resource Guide for Veterinary Settings (PDF): https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/Suicide-Prevention-Resource-Guide-Veterinary-Settings.pdf

Suicide Prevention Awareness Toolkit (PDF): https://www.aavmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAVMC-Wellbeing-SuicidePrevention-Toolkit.pdf

QPR Suicide Prevention Training (60-min free virtual training): https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing/qpr-suicide-prevention-training

Episode 7: What You Can Do To Prevent Suicide (podcast): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/episodes/10874181-what-you-can-do-to-prevent-suicide-episode-7-reviving-vet-med

Thank You to Our Sponsor Scribenote
Book a Demo: https://calendly.com/d/4zm-dsr-wfh/scribenote-demo

Try 100 Notes for Free: https://app.scribenote.com/auth/register?referralCode=Reviving-VetMed

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs
To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.c

Psychological health and safety is a buzz phrase that is picking up traction when it comes to taking steps to create healthier, safer, and more supportive work environments. In this episode, we delve into the Veterinary Visionaries™ initiative, a groundbreaking collaboration launched in 2022 by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which brought together nearly 50 veterinary health stakeholders to address the profession's most pressing challenges. Among the innovative ideas that emerged from this initiative was the development of the Psychological Health and Safety Guidelines (PHSG), a comprehensive framework designed to foster workplaces where veterinary professionals can truly thrive.

We break down the key components of these guidelines, focusing on their potential to transform veterinary practice culture, enhance communication, and safeguard mental health. From leadership commitment to trauma-informed care, these guidelines offer actionable strategies that can be integrated into everyday practice to create a more supportive and resilient work environment. Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or team member, this episode provides essential insights into how the PHSG can be implemented to improve the wellbeing of your team and the quality of care provided to your patients.

Resources
Veterinary Visionaries Psychological Health and Safety Guidelines (PDF): https://veterinaryvisionaries.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/VV-Psychological-Health-Safety-Guidelines-June-2024.pdf

Veterinary Visionaries: https://veterinaryvisionaries.org/

Canadian National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety: https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/national-standard/

Bullying in Veterinary Workplaces (Episode 32): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/12189535-bullying-in-veterinary-workplaces-episode-32-reviving-vet-med

Showing Appreciation in the Workplace (Episode 8): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/10874180-showing-appreciation-in-the-workplace-episode-8-reviving-vet-med

Thank You to Our Sponsor Scribenote
Book a Demo: https://calendly.com/d/4zm-dsr-wfh/scribenote-demo

Try 100 Notes for Free: https://app.scribenote.com/auth/register?referralCode=Reviving-VetMed

Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs
To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.

Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities
Email: podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Mistakes are an inevitable part of veterinary practice, and if you’ve been in the field for any length of time, chances are you’ve made one. In this episode, we delve into the various types of mistakes that can occur, from minor errors like miscalculating a drug dose to more serious ones that may have significant consequences. Drawing from personal experiences and professional insights, we explore the emotional toll mistakes can take and share strategies for coping and thriving in their aftermath.

We discuss the importance of technical learning, full disclosure, expanding perspectives, and finding support among colleagues. Additionally, we emphasize the power of self-compassion in silencing the inner critic that often emerges after a mistake. Whether you’ve just made a mistake or are supporting someone who has, this episode offers valuable tools to help navigate the challenging yet common experiences that all veterinary professionals face.

Resources

Article: Medical errors cause harm in veterinary hospitals (Frontiers in Vet Sci 2019): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370638/

Article: Veterinarians' experiences with near misses and adverse events (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018): https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/252/5/javma.252.5.586.xml

Article: Veterinarians’ emotional reactions and coping strategies for adverse events in spay-neuter surgical practice (Anthrozoos 2018): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08927936.2018.1406205

Download: Self-Compassion Exercises After Making a Mistake: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/selfcompassion

Thank You to Our Sponsor Scribenote

Book a Demo: https://calendly.com/d/4zm-dsr-wfh/scribenote-demo

Try 100 Notes for Free: https://app.scribenote.com/auth/register?referralCode=Reviving-VetMed

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.

Questions, Suggestions, or Sponsorship Opportunities

Email: podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Have you ever experienced feeling that you have somehow fooled everyone else around you into thinking you are smarter or more capable than you really are? Research demonstrates that just over two-thirds of veterinarians experience imposter syndrome, which is more common among female veterinarians and those in practice for less than 5 years. Imposter syndrome can be an excruciating experience for many professionals and can have dramatic consequences on a person’s wellbeing.

In this episode, we discuss the definition of imposter syndrome, predisposing factors and groups most impacted, who it impacts in veterinary medicine, and the different ways that it shows up in individuals’ personal and professional lives. We’ll finish by discussing practical and tangible ways to reduce imposter syndrome including quieting the inner critic. This is an episode you will want to share with others in your life who also experience feeling like a fraud.

Resources

Blog: If I’m Such a Successful Veterinarian, Why Do I Feel Like a Fraud? https://marieholowaychuk.com/2018/04/04/im-successful-veterinarianthen-feel-like-fraud/

Article: Veterinarians and impostor syndrome: an exploratory study (Vet Rec 2020): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32571984/

Book: Why do I feel like an imposter? How to understand and cope with imposter syndrome (by Dr. Sandi Mann)

Podcast: Do you feel like an imposter? (Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris): https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/valerie-young-574

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.

Questions or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com

The ways in which veterinary teams communicate can have a tremendous impact on their wellbeing. Research demonstrates that team members that work within an environment with effective communication have lower burnout scores and higher levels of job satisfaction compared to those who work in an environment with ineffective communication. Likewise, candid and open communication among team members is one of the four main components of a healthy work environment identified in the Merck Animal Health Wellbeing Study III, which is also linked with lower burnout and psychological distress among team members.

In this episode, we discuss the benefits of healthy team communication and how to achieve that with curiosity and compassion. We cover different strategies for compassionate communication, as adapted from the non-violent communication model. From empathy to genuine apologies, there are helpful strategies here for all veterinary team members to apply in their work and home lives.

Resources

Article: The role of veterinary team effectiveness in job satisfaction and burnout in companion animal veterinary clinics (JAVMA 2014): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25148093/

Article: Executive summary of the Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study III and Veterinary Support Staff Study (JAVMA 2022): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35943942/

Book: Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life (by Marshall Rosenberg).

To Watch the Video Version of this Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcMSIENw6YI

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Questions or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com

For a visual of the Life-Balance Matrix and Eisenhauer Box, please download this free PDF: https://revivingvetmed.com/timemanagement

The holidays are here and while this time of year is exciting and energizing for many people, it can be exhausting and illness-provoking for others. According to the American Psychological Association, more than one-third of people surveyed during the holidays report an increase in their stress level due to time constraints, financial concerns, commercialism, the pressures of gift-giving, and, of course, family gatherings.

It’s important that we don’t get lost in the hustle and bustle of traveling, buying presents, entertaining family and friends, or attending parties, without also taking steps to preserve our mental and physical health. In this episode, we share ten practical and evidence-based strategies for reducing stress, including ways to incorporate them into your busy holiday season.

Resources

Ten Tips for Staying Well This Holidays Season (Blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/ten-tips-for-staying-well-this-holiday-season/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to my e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs

To learn more about my 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.

Questions or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com

Stress, an inherent part of the veterinary profession, and one of the leading concerns among surveyed veterinary teams, can manifest both as eustress, beneficial for personal growth, and distress, leading to chronic exhaustion and overwhelming emotions. Research shows that veterinary professionals who have healthy strategies for coping with stress, are much less likely to experience psychological distress, which can manifest as symptoms of depression or anxiety.

In this episode, we differentiate eustress from distress, and share information from the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study III that uncovers the importance of having a healthy method for coping with stress. We unpack some of those methods, why they are beneficial, and offer strategies to help you incorporate those activities into your daily life.

Resources

Navigating the Stop Stressors in Veterinary Practice (Blog): https://revivingvetmed.com/navigating-the-top-stressors-in-veterinary-practice/

Executive Summary of the Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study III and Veterinary Support Staff Study (Journal Article): https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/260/12/javma.22.03.0134.xml

Volunteering Fosters Mental Health and Wellbeing (Podcast): https://revivingvetmed.buzzsprout.com/2011463/10874177-volunteering-fosters-mental-health-and-wellbeing-episode-11-reviving-vet-med

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to my e-newsletter: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Online Programs

To learn more about my 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, including my popular program Building Better Boundaries, please visit: https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/.

Questions or Suggestions

Email podcast@revivingvetmed.com