Veterinarian Wellbeing
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Suicide Hotlines in North America
Free and Confidential in English and Spanish
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Quebec: 1.866.APPELLE (277.3553)
SAPTEL: (55) 5259-8121
Connections and Outreach
Wellness Wednesday
Weekly tips for your wellbeing.
ÀÖ²©´«Ã½Veterinarian Well-being Video
Watch ÀÖ²©´«Ã½member veterinarians share their personal stories and advice in the veterinarian well-being video created for the 50th Golden Anniversary ÀÖ²©´«Ã½Annual Meeting.
The national provides crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
With a mission of supporting mental health, the Veterinary Hope Foundation offers small group sessions for veterinary professionals.
Support Groups are not a substitute for mental health care. If you are experiencing a mental health or substance use-related emergency, please call or text 988. You will be connected with a trained crisis counselor in a crisis center, who will answer the call or text, provide support, and share resources if needed
Assess Your Well-being
Start your path to improved professional and personal well-being by assessing your well-being through self-reflection and goal setting.
The Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Assessment is a self-administered test of 30 questions to help you understand your current balance of positive and negative personal and work-related experiences.
You can use this self-assessment tool to determine the areas of wellness (emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual) where you are thriving, as well as those that may need greater attention. Access in the hyperlink or download here.
Wellness Wheel Activity Instructions and Wellness Wheel Activity
Assess your well-being by following the instructions to fill out the Wellness Wheel Activity and complete an action plan.
Improve Your Well-being
Well-being can always be improved or enhanced through countless opportunities. Explore the resources below to learn more.
- Discover AVMA tools and resources that support personal and professional well-being
- Learn steps you can take at work and home to support a culture of well-being
- Learn how to find a well-being program or peer assistance contact in your state
The AVMA Wheel of Well-being highlights three dimensions of wellness – physical, social, and emotional – with tips that you can do at home, at work, and on-the-go. It also includes a clear pocket to insert a reminder of what you are passionate about, such as a photo, a word, a quote, or anything else that motivates you to be at your best.
100 Healthy Tips to Support a Culture of Well-being
Get 100 practical suggestions to support healthful living at work and at home. AVMA’s guide offers steps for both individuals and organizations to take in nine dimensions of well-being.
Resources, including well-being resources, for students and early career veterinarians from the AVMA to ease the transition from student to veterinarian.
Help Yourself and Others
Veterinarians interact with and are responsible for the health and well-being of animals and people every day. Use these resources to support your team and the producers you work with.
The AVMA Workplace Well-being Certificate Program (free to AVMA and SAVMA members and $75 for nonmembers) offers 4 CE hours and information on creating a culture of well-being in the workplace. The four-module course, which covers requesting and giving feedback, resolving conflict, assessing and managing suicide risk, and supporting diversity and inclusion, is available online.
Animal Depopulation Resiliency Tool (Available in English, Spanish, and French)
This is a five-item resiliency check-in tool that can be used by veterinarians and other animal-related professionals who are preparing for, participating in, and recovering from animal-depopulation.
Recognize Stress
Manage Stress
, Farm Journal’s Pork
, National Pork Board
Stress, depression, and suicide are on the mind of agricultural communities, where economic, social, and environmental forces challenge the health and safety of farmers, agricultural workers and their families. UMASH is working to provide resources and build partnerships to stimulate innovation and action.
Webinars
Webinar: Iowa Pork Industry Center
During this presentation, Dr. David Brown (Behavioral Health State Specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach) and Dr. Cameron Schmitt (Veterinarian with Pipestone Veterinary Services) offered their real-world insights, experiences and practical tools to develop mental resilience and provide coping strategies in the face of COVID-19.
Webinar: , USDA APHIS VS
The presentation discussed an explanation of wellbeing; suggestions to support and enhance it before, during and after a response for responders and farmers; and options for assisting others with procedures, and processes that have proven effective with other emergencies.
Webinar: , USDA APHIS VS
In this webinar, we discussed how to connect with animal owners and help them cope with grief and loss during euthanasia and depopulation events.
Prevent Suicide
Veterinarians have a higher risk of suicide than the general public. Learn to save lives.
Suicide Awareness Videos from AVMA
QPR training, also known as gatekeeper training, teaches people without professional mental health backgrounds to recognize the signs that someone may be considering suicide and guide the person to seek professional help. Because of the importance of mental well-being in the veterinary profession, the AVMA is providing gatekeeper training to a limited number of veterinarians and veterinary students. QPR training is free for AVMA and SAVMA members. You can also access the directly; the short training is available for a nominal fee.
Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course offered by trained facilitators and is listed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. Individuals will learn how to identify, understand and respond to those who may be experiencing a mental health related problem or crisis. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering several Mental Health First Aid workshops throughout Iowa during 2020 with free registration for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other agribusiness professionals with code ADVOCATE. Register at .