Togetherall

The Power of Peers

Thursday, November 28, 2024
12 to 1 p.m. ET
The webinar will be delivered in French from 12 to 12:30 p.m. and delivered in English from 12:30 to 1 p.m. ET.

Being a veterinarian can be both wonderful and tough, but it is important to remember you are not alone. Your peers are ready to lend an ear and provide support in the Togetherall/CVMA veterinarian anonymous Peer-to-Peer Community. Join us to learn more about the Togetherall Community and platform resources. The webinar will touch on what it is, how to join for free, and ways it can assist you in various situations from discussing life challenges, work struggles including complaints, and the value of peer support while you wait to speak with a psychologist.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The webinar is available and free to all veterinarians and student veterinarians. You do not need to be a

CVMA member to attend. A mental health expert will be available as a safety support resource for one-on-one text or chat during the webinar.

The webinar will be recorded and available for viewing. CE certificates will be available.

Dr. Kathy Keil

Dr. Kathy Keil is CVMA Director Wellness and DEI. As Director, Kathy oversees and operationalizes the CVMA’s Wellness and DEI Programs in support of one of the association’s strategic priorities of establishing a veterinary profession that enjoys a healthy working environment. Her veterinary career has spanned almost 30 years, and, in that time, she has gained a deep understanding of veterinary medicine through a variety of experiences in clinical practice, the pharmaceutical industry, workplace health and safety, academic research, and published author. Her graduate degree in psychology, multiple certificates in mental health and psychological safety, and multi-year involvement in the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association and the CVMA wellness committees provides her with a deep understanding of the issues and strategies to support veterinarians during occupational stress and burnout.

Dr. Karine Maillette

Dr. Karine Maillette is a veterinarian with a master’s degree in social work. Combining both worlds helps Karine provide meaning to what she does. She offers mental health support to the veterinary community. Karine worked for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for over 18 years.

Mary-Lyn Kieffer

Mary-Lyn Kieffer is a passionate mental health advocate and Senior Manager of Partnerships at Togetherall. She was most recently the executive director of the Made of Millions Foundation, Canada, a mental health non-profit organization. She is also an active member in the mental health community in Toronto and has completed a Peer Support Training program. Prior to her advocacy work, she was a marketing and business development professional in both the financial and legal industries, as well as an event producer for Fortune 500 companies. Mary-Lyn holds a master’s degree and Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Economics and Finance.

24/7 Peer-to-Peer Support from Togetherall

Canadian veterinarians and Canadian veterinary school students can now join the Togetherall peer-to-peer platform – a powerful mental health support resource available 24/7 at no cost, anytime and anywhere they have internet connection. Click here to join.

Offering the opportunity to improve mental wellness by receiving and providing support, Togetherall is an online peer-to-peer community supported by integrated services and safety nets—including anonymous interactions and supervision by licensed mental health practitioners—that empowers members to openly share their innermost thoughts and feelings in an inclusive environment.

In addition to partnering with Merck Animal Health for It’s Time to Talk About Mental Health in Veterinary Medicine Awareness Week each September, the CVMA offers members a wellness resource toolkit that continually evolves with the changing needs of the veterinary community. Thanks to funding provided by Western Financial, the CVMA has been able to advance this mission by offering Togetherall to all Canadian veterinarians and veterinary students.

“Despite the disproportionately high percentage of veterinary professionals who report mental health challenges, many of them are reluctant to discuss their concerns with others and even less likely to adopt self-care strategies or seek professional help,” said Dr. Kathy Keil, Director, Veterinary Wellness and DEI. “In the Togetherall community, there’s no stigma to reaching out for support because users interact anonymously with each other.”

The CVMA joins a robust list of partners, including organizations in the corporate, education, health and non-profit sectors, benefiting from the unique peer-to-peer platform. Through these partnerships, Togetherall is available to more than 10 million people worldwide. Recent data shows that Togetherall is supporting “hard to reach” veterinarians, 51 per cent said they are not seeking any formal mental health support, 8 per cent said they had no support outside Togetherall and 28 per cent received one-on-one support from the Togetherall mental health professional.

The platform includes a variety of self-directed courses, self-assessments, journals, and articles available as part of the Togetherall’s service. These tools help individuals further engage in their own recovery and support journey.

Togetherall offers the opportunity to connect with a global community of people who are interested in seeking support from and supporting others around stress and mental health. The anonymous platform is clinically moderated to ensure safety and inclusivity. Now, Canadian veterinarians and veterinary students have an opportunity to connect more directly with others in the veterinary field. Within Togetherall, there are now Role-Based Groups; message boards that allow for people with similar roles to connect with each other. There is a specific role-based Veterinary Medicine group for those within the veterinary field to connect and share challenges, successes, struggles, and triumphs around their careers and interests. Check it out and find support in a safe, anonymous, online environment.

Watch this webinar to learn how this platform can support you anytime, anywhere. We encourage Canadian veterinarians and veterinary students to join this unique Togetherall community here.