WSAVA issues professional wellbeing guidelines for veterinarians to improve mental health
In September, the World Association of Small Animal Veterinarians (VSAVA) presented its new global recommendations on professional wellbeing during its Mundial Congress in Lisbon. They have now been published and are available for review.
New Global Guidelines for Occupational Wellbeing have been created WSAVA Professional Wellness GroupWhich Hills is collaboratingto develop a portfolio of accessible, evidence-based tools and other resources to support veterinary well-being, covering the diverse regional, economic and cultural needs of members around the world.
WSAVA believes that all sectors of the veterinary profession (veterinary education, professional associations, academic institutions and veterinary businesses) have a role to play in improving overall welfare.
The WSAVA paper attempts to describe the scenario of the veterinary profession and its impact on mental health. So, they remember that in 2018 they held global mental health survey determine the extent of mental health problems in the global veterinary community.
“The results show that although there are some differences in risk factors across cultures “In the veterinary industry around the world, mental health issues affect a significant portion of the global veterinary family, not just individuals, but entire veterinary teams,” they say.
Major stressors The survey identified interactions with clients, relationships with other veterinarians, organizational and financial management issues, and time and workload management.
Given that the severity and extent of veterinary mental health problems dvary around the worldThis Professional Wellbeing Guide has been developed to describe the issues facing the profession and to provide advice and support.
Thus they provide overview of factors that may affect mental health vet; how they can negatively impact veterinarians and their teams, and various ways to address these issues, including both preventive and therapeutic approaches.
UNREALIZED EXPECTATIONS IN A VETERINARY CAREER
“Those attracted to a veterinary career expect its rewards to include the satisfaction of providing valuable skills to a veterinarian. help the animalsin addition to the gratitude of its grateful owners,” explains WSAVA.
Unfortunately, for some who choose this career path, the challenges they face are more than they are prepared to face. In addition, the association emphasizes that personalities of those who are attracted to the veterinary profession They usually have idealistic and perfectionistic traits.
“These traits may be inappropriate Given the emotionally complex realities of the profession, clients’ expectations regarding the capabilities and costs of veterinary services may differ significantly from reality,” they point out.
Thus failure to provide the most appropriate care to a patient Due to pricing pressures coupled with the cost of providing services to emotional and dissatisfied clients, “a stressful situation can quickly become unpleasant for a veterinarian.”
SUICIDE IN VETERINARY
Here they remind that many studies around the world have detailed the challenges of clinical practice and how they can lead to sub-optimal mental health in the veterinary profession. These mental health problems may ultimately lead to suicide. In this sense, research into high suicide rates among veterinarians in Australia, the UK, Norway and the US offers several explanations.
These include high-achieving and perfectionistic personalities, social and geographic isolation, the need to accept euthanasia to relieve suffering, and easy access to lethal drugs and knowledge of how to use them.
“The challenges of clinical practice and its detrimental effects on a successful career, coupled with the lack of available relief, can leave many veterinarians leave the profession within the first 3-4 years,” they insist. This issue has prompted professional veterinary organizations in countries such as the US, UK and Australia to develop programs to support professional wellbeing.
The existence of this set preventive and treatment programs For WSAVA, this is “a testament to the supportive and determined nature of veterinarians and other veterinary colleagues.
“The global veterinary community has many members who find their careers rewarding and fulfilling, and it is a credit to the community that many of these happy and healthy veterinarians devote their time and resources to developing programs, mentoring their colleagues, or providing one-on-one assistance to their colleagues. . In need. Many who dedicate their time to improving the mental health of their colleagues find that your efforts improve your own well-being“, they conclude.
ACCESSING THE MANUAL