How to Help Your Mental Health in the Veterinary Profession
Being a veterinarian, veterinary technician, assistant, or support staff in the field is a highly rewarding profession. However, it can also be a stressful, demanding, challenging, and emotionally and physically draining job. Everyone in the field, from kennel technicians to practitioners, can experience a wide range of emotional situations alongside clients and their pets. Everything from emergencies, life or death injuries, end of life euthanasia, and everything in between. These situations can also be exacerbated by long hours, financial stress, and managing emotional or “difficult” clients.
Unfortunately, compassion fatigue and burnout are extremely common in the industry: a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association revealed that 58.9% of veterinarians had high secondary traumatic stress scores and 50.2% of veterinarians had high burnout scores. There is less data on the effects of mental health on veterinary support staff. It's important to talk about this issue not just because May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but because the topic is so important overall. Mixlab cares about and supports your mental health year round through our partnership with Not One More Vet, a non-profit organization that provides the necessary support to all members of veterinary teams and students who are struggling or considering suicide. Mental health matters in the veterinary world, and Mixlab wants you to know we hear you, see you, and want to help.
How the Veterinary Profession Affects Mental Health
Long hours in the office, struggling clients, and emotional pet parents are just a few factors that can take a toll on the mental health and well-being of veterinary professionals. Without proper support and attention to mental health, veterinary professionals can experience burnout, anxiety, depression and more, that can impact their own well-being as well as the quality of care they provide to their clients.
Many veterinary mental health statistics are scarily high and alarming—the mere fact that nearly 70% of veterinarians have lost a colleague or peer to suicide further highlights the need for mental health support, resources, and conversations. Committing to improving mental health in the veterinary world is crucial to ensure that you can provide the best possible care to animals while also taking care of your own well-being and health.
Ways To Help Improve Your Mental Health
Because you are more than just your job, veterinary professionals must commit to prioritizing their mental health and seeking help when needed. This can be anything from professional counseling and support from colleagues to taking time off when needed, and more. There are also a number of apps that can support your mental health as well.
Different veterinary organizations also play a role in promoting mental health awareness and providing resources for anyone in need. Mixlab is proud to support Not One More Vet (NOMV) whose mission is to transform the status of mental wellness within the profession.
It's important that you find what works for you. This could be in the form of practical strategies and advice from a mental health expert. Or perhaps mindfulness techniques, stress-management tips, self-care practices, or support networks will allow you the headscape to thrive both personally and professionally. Whatever it is, don't be afraid to ask for help!
Mixlab Supports You and Your Mental Health
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you're not alone. When it comes to veterinary mental health support, the American Veterinary Medical Association has various resources including a national hotline, peer support opportunities, events, training, self assessments, and more.
At your practice, Mixlab can help by adding value in the veterinary exam room, streamlining processes, simplifying the process of compounding pet medications, and increasing veterinarian pet efficiency. Mixlab aims to eliminate the daily pain points that detract from the real work of caring for animals in need. Not only does partnering with our pet compounding pharmacy support productivity in your pet practice, it also allows your practice to save time and save money.
We want to be here as a resource to help you thrive. Let us help make your life in the office easier.
To all the veterinary professionals out there, it's important to us that you understand how highly valued, appreciated, and important you are. Our furry friends would be nowhere without you, which means we would be nowhere as well. Thank you for all that you do!
