Veterinary Health and Wellness Resources

Are you feeling overwhelmed, alone, or isolated? Consider Togetherall to connect to your veterinary peers in an anonymous, asynchronous, safe space to share, get support, and start to feel better.

Do you want to talk with a professional mental health provider? Find your provincial veterinary Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) phone number to connect with a counsellor through our Who Ya’gonna Call list.

Are you having persistent negative thoughts, thoughts of suicide, or are in a crisis? Call the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8 or text 9-8-8 to connect to a crisis responder and get help without judgement. Or call 911 or visit the nearest hospital.

 

There has been a wealth of discussion on the topic of wellness in veterinary medicine over the past few years and it is important that we keep this issue at the forefront. The CVMA has been looking at ways to complement wellness programs and resources that are currently available for Canadian veterinarians and veterinary students.

Here you will find pertinent resources and information from numerous sources to help support the personal well-being of veterinarians and veterinary students, with a focus on education, awareness and prevention. Additional resources and professional support services may also be available through your provincial veterinary association or veterinary college.

If you or someone you know needs help, consult the list of Helplines and Professional Support Services available in your region. In emergency or crisis situations, go to the nearest hospital or call 911.

The CVMA Wellness, DEI+ Accessibility Program

The CVMA Wellness, DEI+ Accessibility Program is designed for veterinarians and veterinary professionals to achieve healthy, sustainable, and meaningful careers, while working with resilient teams in flourishing workplaces. The program is built on and incorporates Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), Accessibility, Cultural Sensitivity, and Psychological Health and Safety Principles. 

The program features four components:

  1. Getting Well
  2. Being Well
  3. Being Protected
  4. Amplifying Joy

Getting well recognizes that it is hard, if not impossible, to work when one is unhealthy and/or injured. As such, it is important to have resources, support, and tools to help you recover and have a meaningful and satisfying work experience.

Being well refers to resources, supports, and tools to help you maintain health and wellness in all dimensions including mental, physical, emotional, social, financial, and occupational.

Being protected focuses on resources, supports, and tools to help prevent and reduce the negative impact of occupational psychological stressors, including those unique to veterinary medicine.

Amplifying Joy is our way of celebrating the profession with pride and joy. This helps to uplift and provide a positive antidote to psychological harm that may be encountered in the work you do. We will curate and share stories about Canadian veterinary professionals who are finding meaning and accomplishment in their work.

The program is currently operating using existing resources, support, and tools (see below). New offerings, three of which are specific to steward DEI and accessibility, are currently under review to help round out the program.

The Working Mind Employee and Manager Courses, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and sponsored by Petsecure, address workplace mental health concerns caused by inherent workplace stressors such as interpersonal relationships and conflict, day-to-day workflow pressures, and some challenges unique to veterinary medicine like ethical and moral distress. 

Togetherall, sponsored by Western Financial Group, is a 24/7/365 online peer platform and mental health support resource free for all Canadian veterinarians and veterinary students and offers a closed community just for this group. Anonymously and confidentially share questions and struggles with peers who understand what you are going through. Togetherall is inclusive and safe with oversight by licensed mental health practitioners.

Our Mental Health Webinar and Video Series, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, bring open and honest conversations about mental health to the veterinary community, decrease stigma to talk about the health of our brain, and create a community where members look out for and help one another. 

Employee and Workplace Services, sponsored by the CVMA’s insurance partner Western Financial Group, offers clinics and veterinarians access to Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), general human resource supports for practice owners, counselling sessions, and more.

Our Web-Based Mental Health Resource Hub is a curated collection of credible and evidence-based resources, counsellor (many who’s services are covered by provincial veterinary medical associations) contact information, and other supports, many of which are tailored specifically for veterinary medicine.

Additionally, the CVMA DEI and accessibility web-based veterinary medicine resource hub is currently in development.

Please contact Dr. Kathy Keil, CVMA Director, Wellness, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with comments or questions.