For anyone interested in learning more about the field of veterinary social work (VSW), we interviewed Sarina Manifold, MSSW, LCSW, the Founder and Owner of Authentic Healing Counseling, located in North Carolina. She also is on the MentorVet team as one of our Mental Health coaches! When asked how veterinary social workers can be used to support the veterinary profession, Ms. Manifold responded, “Veterinary Social Workers are taught a unique set of skills that can help animal care providers with several issues that are unique to the profession,”

The Founder and Director of the Veterinary Social Work program at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Elizabeth Strand, Ph.D., defines Veterinary Social Work as “an area of social work practice that attends to the human needs that arise in the intersection of veterinary medicine and social work practice.” Veterinary Social Work encompasses four distinct categories beyond using animals as a therapeutic intervention. Read more here…

Burnout in veterinary medicine is an increasingly common and significant issue for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. A 2020 study found that fifty-eight percent of veterinary technicians report symptoms of burnout (Kogan et al), and a 2017 study found that forty-nine percent of veterinarians report “moderate-to-substantial” burnout (Kipperman et al).

Burnout can cause decreased job satisfaction, decreased productivity, and most importantly it leads to decreased well-being overall. Read more about strategies to combat burnout.

The mission of MentorVet “leveraging evidence-based approaches to empower veterinary professionals, transforming veterinary medicine into a healthy profession for individuals and communities”.  As part of fulfilling its mission MentorVet has a staff that includes mental health and financial coaches as well as mentors.  The mentors are practicing veterinarians who serve as coaches to help early-career veterinarians learn to cope with the stressors of practice.

Compassion fatigue is another risk-factor in the veterinary profession for job dissatisfaction, burnout, moral distress, and attrition.  Ethical dilemmas such as animal cruelty, a client’s inability to afford treatment and euthanasia can contribute to compassion fatigue.

The term, Imposter Syndrome or what is also referred to as Imposter Phenomenon was first reported in 1978 by Clance and Imes who were studying “high achieving women” who, despite their professional and academic accomplishments did not see themselves as successful. Read more about this concept and how to cope here

There are many definitions of wellbeing as it’s a subjective measure that is defined by self-report.  One of the earliest definitions by the World Health Organization in 1948 offers a robust definition that includes not only the person but their working and living environment: “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence disease or infirmity.”

This article will highlight wellbeing in veterinary medicine and offer suggestions to improve or incorporate wellbeing practices into your life.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. —Cicero

Many people know what gratitude is and when asked to define it, we can reflect upon our own experiences, which is having received a positive outcome as a result of another person’s actions.

Gratitude in Veterinary Medicine, will explore the concept and origins of gratitude and how veterinary medicine can benefit from using it in their practice.

This article discusses recognizing and addressing another contributor to burnout: moral distress in veterinary medicine. We experience moral distress when we find ourselves in a situation where we are asked or expected to make an ethically challenging choice that is in conflict with our values. 

This is the third article in our series on Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders in Veterinary Medicine. This article discusses the AVMA’s guidance on impairment; the assessment process for AUD/SUD; the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria and treatment; and recovery, including return to practice.

This article is Part 2 in our Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders in Veterinary Medicine Series. We’ll look at the history of addiction treatment in the U.S.; the advancements in the neurobiology of addiction; and the impact of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 on addiction.

This article is part one of a three-part series that addresses the subject of alcohol and substance use disorders and its impact on veterinary medicine. Today, we’ll discuss the diagnostic criteria for alcohol and substance use disorders; its impact on veterinary medicine; and the prevalence and costs associated with alcohol and substance use disorders.

This article explores grief within the veterinary profession. The loss of a companion animal is seen by some mental health professionals as a loss just as significant as the loss of a relative or friend in terms of grief symptoms and grief reactions. Read more to understand grief and how you as a veterinary professional can support your clients through their grieving process.

Feedback is an essential part of growth. When delivered in a compassionate way, it can be especially effective. However, just as with any other skill, some veterinary mentors and supervisors are better at delivering it than others. When receiving feedback, we have little control over how or when it is delivered. We do have control over how we receive it and how we respond. Learning to receive feedback with grace is a skill that can serve us well in all parts of our lives but especially professionally. 

This article explores depression and how it affects veterinarians. If you are a veterinary professional who has symptoms of depression or you suspect that you might have depression, we recommend discussing this with a psychiatrist or a licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist, social worker, etc. These professionals will be able to provide you with individualized guidance on how to move forward with your mental health needs.

The veterinary career can be stressful, and stress may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety. This article will discuss recognizing generalized anxiety disorder in veterinarians and the intervention and prevention strategies that address it.

Embracing spectrum of care requires that veterinary professionals offer a range of options that fit the individual socioeconomic factors as well as expectations and goals of care for each client. Veterinarians may worry that by offering alternative treatment plans, they can open themselves up to liability. Yet, with effective communication, client education, and diligent medical record-keeping, veterinarians can practice compassionately and lower their risk of a complaint.

Transitioning from veterinary school to general practice often presents unique challenges for early-career veterinarians. Learning to provide care given limited financial resources is vital for promoting early-career veterinary wellbeing. This article explores why spectrum of care is so important for early-career professionals and tips to provide care along a spectrum.

We want to post information that will act as a beacon of hope for those who may be having challenges, and if we post information about suicide incorrectly, it actually has the potential to harm others. In this article, I will discuss safe ways to talk about suicide, resources available, and how to learn more.

The veterinary profession is challenging. There will always be tough cases, ethical dilemmas, demanding clients, and a myriad of other stressors that veterinarians experience daily. While the profession is challenging, it can also be incredibly rewarding—particularly when we have the tools to make the stressors not so stressful! This article discusses leveraging the Veterinary Wellbeing Debrief, a tool that you can use to help your mentee process a stressful situation.