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Dispelling Five Common Myths About Mental Health
Did you know that almost half of adults have had a decline in their mental health since the start of the pandemic? In fact, mental health problems are on the rise worldwide and across all demographics. This makes Mental Health Awareness Month an especially important reminder to tune in to and talk about our mental […]
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Defining Futile Care and Its Impact on Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine
As an emergency and critical care specialist, I can wholeheartedly attest to providing futile care to patients whose owners who would not consent to euthanasia or discontinuation of intensive care. I remember one dog in particular who had a collapsing trachea that was stented and then had progression of his disease resulting in laryngeal and […]
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Five Simple Steps for Responding to Negative Online Reviews
There’s nothing that compares to that sick sinking feeling that we experience when we see a 1-star online review. These reviews are often filled with CAPS LOCK words and proclamations starting with “never” (e.g., “never going back…”, “never recommend…”, “never again…”). Many things shared in negative online reviews are exaggerated, over-emphasized, or just plain false, […]
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When do coping strategies become harmful for veterinary care providers?
We’ve all been there. Nearing the end of a horrible shift with not an ounce of energy left; all we can think about is getting home to our couch, favourite TV show, and large glass (or bottle) of wine. And if you don’t drink alcohol, I would venture to guess that you have heard someone else […]
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The Harmful Effects of Venting and How to Stop It
I don’t know about you, but I have been on the receiving end of a person’s venting more in the past year than ever before. “Can I just tell you how mean our clients have been lately…” or “I just need to share how brutal work is right now…” or “What is the deal with […]
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How sharing personal pronouns supports LGBTQIA+ veterinary professionals
Recently you might have noticed that more people are sharing their personal pronouns on their LinkedIn profiles, Zoom accounts, and social media platforms. And if you’re anything like me (admittedly late to the pronoun party), then you may not understand why. As an advocate for veterinary professional wellbeing and in honour of Pride Month, my […]
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Five Things We Now Know About the Mental Health of Veterinarians
Several years ago, I wrote a blog “Five things you didn’t know about the mental health of veterinarians”. It was published at a time when news about suicide among veterinary professionals was starting to emerge and studies were underway to learn more about psychological distress among veterinarians. In the largest of those earlier studies, we […]
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How to Deal with a Difficult Co-Worker
If you’re anything like me then you have had interactions with co-workers that were less than desirable. I think you know what I’m talking about. The eye rolls…the rude comments…the standoffish behaviour. These can all create a lot of discomfort and tension in the workplace. Veterinary medicine attracts a lot of different personalities and it […]
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Five Strategies to Stop Being a People-Pleaser
Do you apologize often, pretend to agree with everyone, or feel uneasy when someone is angry with you? Do you go to great lengths to avoid conflict and resist saying no, even when you want to scream “he** no!”? If this sounds familiar, then you are like countless other “people-pleasers” who struggle with setting […]
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Euthanasia Conversations Impact Veterinary Team Wellbeing
If you are a veterinarian like me, you have probably lost count of the number of times a client has said “I could never do what you do”. Of course, they are referring to euthanizing animals. And while performing euthanasia procedures is certainly not the easiest task that we do as veterinarians, it is also […]
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Why You Should Form Habits Instead of Resolutions in January
At the start of any year, many of us look to this new beginning as a “fresh start” or “clean slate”. In fact, habit-forming experts say that the start of a new year, season, job, or relationship can be a favourable time to drop bad habits and pick up new ones. That said, when most […]
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The One Thing I’m Taking Away From 2020…
The countdown is on to the end of 2020, a year that will not soon be forgotten, and has been wrought with stress, exhaustion, and isolation in response to COVID-19. I, for one, am grateful for the fresh start that 2021 will bring, with hopes for a tempered pandemic, a renewed sense of optimism for […]
