WSAVA publishes Veterinary Professional Wellbeing Guidelines to improve mental health

In September, the World Association of Small Animal Veterinarians (WSAVA) presented its new global guidelines on occupational well-being World Congress in Lisbon. Now, they have been published and are available for consultation.

New global guidelines on professional wellbeing have been created by WSAVA Professional Wellness Groupwith whom Hills collaboratesTo create a set of accessible, evidence-based tools and other resources to support veterinary wellness, incorporating the diverse regional, economic and cultural needs of the association’s members worldwide.

For WSAVA, all sectors of the veterinary profession (veterinary education sector, professional associations, educational institutions and veterinary professions) have a role to play in improving overall levels of welfare.

In the document, WSAVA attempts to describe the scenario of the veterinary profession and its effects on mental health. Thus, they remember that in 2018 they a Global Mental Health Survey Defining the scope of mental health challenges in the global veterinary community.

“The results suggest that, although some are Differences in risk factors across cultures “In veterinary industries around the world, mental health challenges affect a large part of the global veterinary family, and not just individuals, but entire veterinary teams,” he says.

main stress The survey identified client interactions, relationships with fellow veterinarians, organizational and financial management issues, and time and workload management.

Given that the manifestation and extent of challenges in veterinary mental health dvaries throughout the worldThis Occupational Wellbeing Guide is designed to describe the challenges facing the profession and to provide advice and support.

Thus, they provide a Overview of factors that can affect mental health Vet how this can negatively impact vets and their teams, and how the problems can be addressed, including both preventative and remedial approaches.

Unfulfilled expectations in a veterinary career

“Those attracted to a veterinary career expect its rewards to include the satisfaction associated with imparting valuable skills. Help the animalsBesides the appreciation of its grateful owners,” he explains from WSAVA.

Unfortunately, for those who take this career path, the difficulties they face are more than they are prepared for. In addition, the association highlights that Personality traits of people attracted to the veterinary profession They are usually dominated by idealistic and perfectionistic traits.

“This Symptoms may be inappropriate to the emotionally challenging realities of a business whose clients may have expectations about the capabilities and costs of veterinary services that differ significantly from reality,” he suggests.

Thus, the Inability to provide the most appropriate care to the patient Due to cost pressures, along with the cost of providing services to emotional and disgruntled clients, “a stressful situation can quickly become painful for a veterinarian.”

Suicide in veterinary medicine

At this point, he recalls that many studies from around the world have detailed the challenges of clinical practice and how these can lead to suboptimal mental health in the veterinary profession. These mental health problems May lead to suicide. In this sense, research on the high suicide rates among veterinarians in Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States suggests several explanations.

These include high-achieving and perfectionistic personality types, social and geographical isolation, the need to accept euthanasia to alleviate suffering, and Easy access to deadly drugs

and knowledge of how to use them.

“The challenges of clinical practice and its detrimental effects, which prevent the pursuit of a fulfilling career, combined with the lack of accessible means to overcome the circumstances, may lead many veterinarians to do so. Leave the business In the first 3 to 4 years,” he asserts. This issue has led veterinary professional organizations in countries such as the US, UK and Australia to develop programs to support professional wellbeing.

The existence of this set of Preventive and therapeutic programs It is, for WSAVA, “a testament to the supportive and critical 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 that community that many of these happy and healthy veterinarians give their time and resources to develop programs, mentor their colleagues, or provide personal support to their colleagues. .in need.Many of those who dedicate their time to improving the mental health of their peers find it Your efforts improve your own well-being“, they conclude.

Access the guide