A new book focusing on stress, burnout and the high suicide rate among veterinarians has outlined a seven-module "coping and wellbeing program", which includes important lessons for all time-poor or socially isolated workers.
In Coping with Stress and Burnout as a Veterinarian (Australian Academic Press), psychologist Dr Nadine Hamilton says there is a "dark side" to the veterinary profession, with workers operating within a "culture of death" (animal slaughter and euthanasia) and struggling with financial issues, despite the often-incorrect belief that they are wealthy due to the high charge-out rates for their treatment of pets.
In some Australian states, the suicide rate for vets is about four times higher than the rate for the general adult population, while UK research shows that vets are more likely to suffer from severe or very severe symptoms of depression, their suicide risk is higher than for medical doctors and dentists, and their access to lethal medication "can translate thoughts of suicide into actual behaviour", she says.
Factors that adversely affect a vet's wellbeing include poor work-life balance and a lower-than-expected income, given the nature of the work and the extensive training required to enter the profession, Hamilton says.
The high costs of setting up, running or maintaining a practice significantly reduce profit margins, while veterinary nurses can have "limited scope for advancement once they have already reached practice manager status, placing a ceiling on their earning capacity", she says.
Vets must also deal with "difficult or emotionally distressed" animal owners, perform complex work at a fast pace for long hours, work on their own and in remote locations, and perform euthanasia, which is distressing for multiple reasons, she adds.
The threat of suicidality in vets can be tackled through career counselling and providing a "psychological toolbox of resources they can refer to when required", the book says.
The book includes the "complete coping and wellbeing program for veterinary professionals", with strategies for proactively managing stress and increasing resilience grouped into seven modules: stress management; time management; communication and assertiveness; relaxation; SMART goal setting; acceptance and commitment therapy; and positive psychology.
The first module incorporates a 10-point "stress busting list" that includes:
- Know your stressors – learn to recognise the things that "get you stressed" and work on strategies for coping with them;
- Recognise your symptoms – try to recognise the signs of stress, like feeling nauseous, being irritable or sweating, so you can "take a more proactive role in combating stress";
- Practice mindfulness – focus on "being in the moment" instead of getting "caught up in the past or future";
- Socialisation – surround yourself with supportive friends and family, and be aware that laughing releases endorphins that help you "de-stress in the long run"; and
- Seek professional help – speak to your GP or psychologist if "you feel like stress has control of you" and "you do not feel like you have appropriate strategies".
Hamilton has spent a decade researching the mental wellbeing of veterinarians, and founded the global campaign "Love Your Pet Love Your Vet", to raise awareness of the high burnout and suicide rates in the profession, and reduce the stigma of seeking help for vets.
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