Reviving Vet Med

Send us Fan Mail

How often do you look back at your life and think to yourself “If I had known then what I know now…”? In the context of mental health and wellbeing, this comes up often for me, in wishing that I had tools and strategies for burnout detection and management, as well as self-care and mental wellness early in my career. 

In today’s bonus episode, I am interviewed by Drs. Marci Kirk and Annie Chavent, cohosts of the My Veterinary Life podcast. We dive deep into my journey in veterinary medicine and everything I wish I had known along the way. The conversation is full of tools and strategies for veterinary professionals to consider no matter where you are on your career and wellbeing journey.  

Resources

Please subscribe to the My Veterinary Life on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-veterinary-life/id1455412037) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/


Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Surveys demonstrate that approximately 50% of veterinary team members have experienced sustained harassment in the workplace. Workplace bullying is a rarely discussed but incredibly important problem in veterinary medicine and something that veterinary leaders, practice managers, and team members must take steps to mitigate or prevent. 

In today’s episode, we review the definition of workplace bullying, who it impacts, what the consequences are, and how veterinary workplaces can prevent or address bullying. I also share my own experience with bullying and what I encourage others to do if they find themselves in a similar situation. 

Resources

Bullying in the Healthcare Workplace: A guide to prevent and mitigation (American Medical Association): https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/bullying-health-care-workplace-guide-prevention-mitigation 

Bullying and Aggression in the Veterinary Profession by Dr. Justine Lee (Clinician’s Brief): https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/bullying-and-aggression-veterinary-profession 

Behaviour in Veterinary Practice by Sally Everitt (VetSurgeon.org & VetNurse.co.uk): https://www.vetsurgeon.org/behaviour.pdf 

Download

How to Deal with a Difficult Coworker: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/HandlingConflict 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/


Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Research reveals that veterinarians experience depression more often compared to the average person, and that burnout is affecting between one-third to one-half of veterinary team members. Because there is significant overlap between symptoms of depression and burnout, yet differences in how they are managed or treated, it is important to better understand them.  

In today’s episode, I explain the differences and similarities between depression and burnout, and where to go for help if you believe you might be experiencing either one. In honor of Bell Let’s Talk Day (Canada), I also share my own experience with depression and burnout and how I have been able to manage them in the past.  

Resources

Shanti Project (Veterinary Mental Health Initiative): https://www.shanti.org/programs-services/veterinary-mental-health-initiative/ 

TogetherAll (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association): https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/veterinary-resources/veterinary-health-and-wellness-resources/togetherall/ 

Download

Mental Health Resources for Veterinary Teams: https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/wellnessresources

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Veterinary team members, like all humans, are prone to making mistakes. This can be difficult to accept when the intention is to help, not harm, which can lead veterinary professionals to be self-critical when mistakes happen. Research demonstrates that veterinary students and healthcare providers who practice self-compassion are more resilient and able to bounce back from difficult situations.

During this BONUS episode, you will be guided through a self-compassion meditation in the aftermath of a mistake. Mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness are cultivated to enhance self-compassion. 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/


Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Given the high rates of psychological distress and burnout in veterinary medicine, many veterinary team members are considering education and advocacy in the context of wellbeing. Questions asked regularly are “How can I become a wellbeing advocate?” and “How can I get my team members to take better care of themselves?”. These incredibly important questions are great launching points into a conversation about what it takes to educate and inspire others to foster their mental health and wellbeing. 

What you can expect from this episode is a candid conversation about my journey to becoming a mental health and wellbeing advocate, as well as suggestions and strategies for those who strive to do the same. I also share my thoughts on how we can inspire others in our lives to invest in their self-care and wellbeing. 

Resources

Stop Being a Martyr and Start Modelling Healthy Behaviour (blog): https://marieholowaychuk.com/2019/10/16/stop-martyr-start-modeling-healthy-behavior/ 

So You Want to Be an Advocate for Veterinary Wellness? (blog): https://marieholowaychuk.com/2018/10/10/so-you-want-to-do-what-i-do/ 

AVMA Programs - Scroll Down to “Wellbeing events, trainings, and CE opportunities”: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/


Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

 If you’re like most people, then you probably resolve to change a habit or establish a novel habit when the New Year rolls around. Statistically speaking, more than one-third of people set a New Year’s resolution. Yet > 80% of those resolutions will have failed by mid-February. 

The good news is that if you enjoy the idea of using the New Year as a clean slate for introducing healthy changes into your life, there are some different strategies that you can consider for successfully reaching your goals throughout the year. In this episode, I discuss three simple strategies for achieving goals or establishing healthy habits, with practical recommendations for forming those goals and sticking with them. 

Resources

Book: Gretchen Rubin’s “Better Than Before” 

Download: Gretchen Rubin’s “23 for 2023 List” (https://gretchenrubin.com/resource/23-for-2023-list/) 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

There is no doubt that perfectionism can wreak havoc on our mental health and wellbeing. In fact, research demonstrates that veterinarians who experience perfectionism are more susceptible to distress during triggering stressful events. Likewise, physicians with self-oriented perfectionism are more likely to experience symptoms of burnout in the form of emotional exhaustion. 

Because so many veterinary professionals self-identify as perfectionists, it is important to discuss perfectionism candidly in relation to the signs, consequences, and strategies for limiting its impact on our lives. In this episode, I answer the questions: How do you know if you have perfectionism? Is perfectionism good or bad? When is perfectionism a problem? How is perfectionism linked to burnout? And how can perfectionism be lessened in ourselves? 

Resource

If you struggle with procrastination because of your perfectionism please listen to Episode 23 - Seven Strategies for Preventing Procrastination: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2011463/11254172

Research

Perfectionism as a predictor of physician burnout (article): https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-022-08785-7 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/


Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

During the last several years, veterinary medicine has experienced an increase in demand for veterinary care, as well as an increase in attrition of team members and a shortage of available team members to fill those vacant spots. As such, most veterinary practices are routinely functioning with a staffing deficit while tending to a higher than usual caseload. 

These circumstances have led to burnout rates exceeding 50% among some veterinary team members. 

The benefits of utilizing telehealth services in veterinary medicine are numerous, not the least of which is providing care for pet owners who are unable to access veterinary appointments in a timely fashion. In this episode, I discuss the forms of telehealth used most commonly in veterinary medicine and the benefits for using these technologies to support veterinary team wellbeing. 

Resources

How telehealth can improve the wellbeing of veterinary teams (blog):
https://marieholowaychuk.com/2022/11/02/how-telehealth-can-improve-the-wellbeing-of-veterinary-teams/

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/

Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Recent research highlights the importance of getting enough sleep whereby adults who sleep less than 6-7 hours per day have a higher risk of chronic illness. Despite knowing the importance of sleep quantity and quality, one-third of adults experience insomnia. Daily stressors, technology, and other factors can also impact a person’s duration and level of sleep.      

In this episode, I recap recent research about the consequences of not getting enough sleep, review important aspects of sleep physiology, and share tools and strategies for getting a good night’s sleep. 

Resources

Ten tools for improving your sleep hygiene (blog): https://marieholowaychuk.com/2019/09/18/10-tips-improving-sleep-hygiene/ 

What do the sleep experts say about pets in the bedroom? (blog): https://marieholowaychuk.com/2018/09/26/sleep-experts-say-pets-bedroom/ 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/


Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

The food guide plate or Healthy Eating Platter was introduced more than 10 years ago to demonstrate visually what we should be eating to maintain a healthy body. Since then, neuropsychiatry expert Dr. Daniel Siegel partnered with his colleague and friend Dr. David Rock to share what is referred to as the Healthy Mind Platter. This collection of activities is designed to promote neural connections within the brain that foster mental health and wellbeing.    

In this episode, I review the difference between mental illness and mental health, and describe the seven activities within the Healthy Mind Platter and why they are important for our mental health and wellbeing.  

Resources

Why every veterinary professional needs a healthy mind platter (article): https://medium.com/creatures/what-every-veterinarian-needs-a-healthy-mind-platter-ece4182faf7c 

Online Programs

To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/


Newsletter

For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter

Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Support the show