The real “gold medalist” of the Tokyo Olympics may be mental health. Simone Biles and Novak Djokovic each brought their own “twist” on how we can “smash” false perceptions about pressure, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges faced by elite athletes and, yes, even veterinary professionals. (You'll have to listen to find out the meaning of those puns!) Viewfinders, this is a good one!

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Hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT review the very different repossess to Simone Biles withdrawal from some of her Olympic competitions due to personal concerns about her mental health and the “twisties.” Beckie shares her experience with the “twisties” as a prior gymnastics coach and why it’s a particularly dangerous, and largely inexplicable, condition.

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The pair reflect on comments made by tennis star Novak Djokovic about Biles and her mental health revelations. They also compare and contrast how Biles rose to compete again with Djokovic’s on-court tantrum and quitting the mixed doubles competition just before he and his partner’s Bronze medal match. We couldn’t have scripted a more timely and relevant large-scale example to spark a mental health discussion in veterinary medicine.

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Viewfinders, this episode serves as an excellent backdrop for you and your team to begin a wellness and self-care journey toward better mental health. We worry that our profession inadvertently continues to reward and promote the “tough it out” and “just get over it” attitudes toward mental and physical health through our actions, social media posts, and treatment of those who speak out in support or need. We can do better than our current systems of “burned out in 5 years” that seems pervasive in 2021.

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Viewfinders, what do you think about the discussion around the Olympics and mental health? Are there lessons veterinary medicine can benefit from? How are you having these conversations in your clinic? Share your stories on our social media!