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Poor work-life balance, high occupational conflict, emotional and moral challenges, and financial stressors are just a few of the contributing factors leading to burnout, ill health and loss of wellbeing for Australian veterinarians and their nursing staff. Over the last three decades, the risk of suicide in veterinary professionals has steadily increased: veterinarians are now four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population and two times more likely than any other healthcare profession.[1] Recognising the critical need for support, Zoetis, who works closely with vet practices around Australia, has partnered with Beyond Blue to once again champion mental health initiatives in the veterinary industry.
With a commitment of $800,000 over the last eight years, Zoetis has been a steadfast supporter of Beyond Blue’s vital services, which saw more than 300,000 individuals reach out for assistance in 2023 alone. In 2024, Zoetis has set a goal to raise an additional $100,000 by the end of the year by donating $5 from each sale of the company’s vaccines and parasiticides products between 15 July and 31 October to Beyond Blue.
“Our partnership with Beyond Blue is more than just financial support,” says Lance Williams, Zoetis Senior Vice President, Australia and New Zealand. “We are passionate about improving mental health and are proud to have partnered with Beyond Blue to tackle these very real issues affecting our veterinarians, practice staff and nurses, who suffer as a result of supporting our community.”
There is growing evidence from academic research, industry bodies and professionals that the veterinary industry is in a mental health crisis. A recent review (by the Australian Veterinary Association) identified that individual and environmental risk factors exist throughout the entire veterinary career lifecycle and include personality traits of perfectionism, demanding and expensive student life, poor postgraduate support, poor work-life balance, high occupational conflict, emotional and moral challenges, and financial stressors.
“Day in and day out, vets undergo a great deal of stress, not only caring for sick animals but compassionately and knowledgeably working with animal owners to provide the best care and treatment. Of course, this can take a toll on vets’ mental health,” said Dr Luke Martin, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Spokesperson at Beyond Blue. “While hugely rewarding, the veterinary profession comes with numerous challenges, so a proactive approach to staying on top of their mental health is needed. Long hours, financial worries and the emotional impacts of the job can start to pile up and impact their mental health. Vets are so busy they often feel like they can’t justify time to look after their own wellbeing, but it’s incredibly important that they do.”
Here, Dr Martin shares some practical tips on managing mental health in a veterinary practice:
Physical and emotional exhaustion contribute to burnout. It’s important to be aware of your energy levels and your capacity to cope with the challenges of the workday and workweek. Recognise when you are starting to feel drained or fatigued, and take the time to rest, recover and recharge.
There is so much outside of your control in veterinary practice. Try to focus on what you can control, which are your own actions and how you respond to challenging situations as best you can.
Prolonged stress can sometimes cause us to turn against ourselves and become our harshest critics. Try to be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to take the pressure down and be reasonable in what you expect from yourself.
Vets live with the unexpected, and it’s easy to get stuck in situations that don’t go as planned. Think about what you did well, what you learned from the experience, and what you might do differently next time. Viewing challenging experiences as a time of growth can help.
It’s so easy to focus on everything that is going wrong, however, change your focus to notice what is going well during the workday. Begin to notice those small moments that bring you joy, whether it’s a case gone well, a client saying thank you or something as simple as puppy cuddles.
Develop habits to release the stress of the work day, such as physical activity, debriefing with a colleague, breathing exercises or mindfulness meditation.
Look for moments of connection with your team and clients in practice, reach out to friends and family to stay connected and use them as support when needed.
Clinical Leaders and Practice Managers can provide a clear process for dealing with customers and guidance on when to escalate problems. Letting team members know that they have your support and what they can say in tough situations will give them the confidence to engage and disengage as needed.
You don’t need to wait for your problems to snowball and have a big impact on your life. Reach out early to organisations that specialise in supporting mental health. Beyond Blue has a range of support services, including a free six-week program, NewAccess for Small Business, that offers support by trained mental health coaches who have a background in small business. For more information, visit www.beyondblue.org.au/newaccess-SBO
The Zoetis initiative runs between 15 July and 31 October 2024. For each sale of the company’s vaccines and parasiticides products, Zoetis will donate $5, up to $100,000, to Beyond Blue. “The money raised goes directly to the Beyond Blue Support Service to continue helping those working in the vet industry. To date, thanks to Zoetis’s donation, over 15,500 people have been able to get the support they need through the service,” said Mr Williams.
For more information on how you can help Zoetis to raise vital funds to support mental health through its partnership with Beyond Blue please visit www.zoetis.com.au. For more information about depression and anxiety, visit www.beyondblue.org.au. The Beyond Blue Support Service offers free and immediate counselling, advice and referrals via phone, webchat or email. To talk to a mental health professional for free, contact the 24/7 Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 46 36. Free web chat is also available 24/7 at beyondblue.org.au/support-service/chat and you can join the Online forums for free.
As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock farmers and ranchers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $8.5 billion in 2023 with approximately 14,100 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.
Beyond Blue is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working to reduce the impact of anxiety, depression and suicide in Australia. Beyond Blue provides information and support to help everyone achieve their best possible mental health, regardless of age, background and wherever they live. Beyond Blue works to give everyone in Australia the confidence to speak openly about anxiety, depression and suicide – both to seek support when they need it and to check in with those close to them – and tackle prejudice and discrimination wherever they exist. Beyond Blue’s tools, resources and services create mentally healthy environments. Through dedicated programs, Beyond Blue supports schools, universities, workplaces and community organisations to protect and promote good mental health.
[1] SuperFriend:Literature Review and Desktop Analysis Australian Veterinary Association | 12 March, 2021
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