{"id":11485,"date":"2022-02-03T11:10:58","date_gmt":"2022-02-03T11:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=11485"},"modified":"2022-06-15T17:48:43","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:48:43","slug":"how-to-improve-our-students-mental-wellness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/how-to-improve-our-students-mental-wellness\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Improve Our Students\u2019 Mental Wellness"},"content":{"rendered":"

A combination of workforce turnover<\/a> and the pandemic-related bottleneck of pet care needs has brought a renewed focus on the demands being placed on veterinarians. At the same time, we have seen a societal shift in and an acceptance of the need to support mental health and wellness. This convergence of factors makes now the optimal time for veterinary businesses, organizations and educational institutions to advance initiatives that better support the well-being of veterinary professionals and future veterinarians.<\/p>\n

As the dean of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, which has nearly 6,000 alumni and affiliated clinics in the United States, Europe and other locations, I want to make sure we are doing all we can to prepare students from an educational and well-being standpoint. After all, to take care of others, one has to take care of oneself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no secret that the veterinary profession, like many other vocations, has been challenged by high stress levels, which the pandemic has only aggravated. Vetlife, which provides health and financial support to the veterinary community, received nearly 4,000 helpline calls in 2020 \u2014 10 times the number in 2014.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, stress levels have surged among university students during the pandemic. According to a 2020 nationwide survey conducted by student telehealth provider TimelyMD, 85% of students experienced increased stress or anxiety during the pandemic. The survey also found that nearly 50% of students wanted their school to offer more virtual mental health services focused on well-being as well as increased social and academic support. (Learn more at bit.ly\/3pTBsvQ<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

What Veterinary Schools Can Do<\/h3>\n

Veterinary schools, in partnership with veterinary organizations, have long been advocates of wellness, and colleagues within these schools have spearheaded initiatives globally. One example is the Mind Matters Initiative, which was established in 2015 and is run by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.<\/p>\n

While the dialogue on health and wellness strengthens in veterinary schools and the profession, we need curricular and extracurricular programs that encourage the development of skills that veterinarians can carry into their careers. Some strategies include:<\/p>\n