There is a need to publicize the syndromes occurring in veterinary personnel due to work-related stress. Vets are apathetic or leaving the profession. It is vital for their emotional health that they know about these syndromes and the importance of seeking help early on. The up-to-date compilation of studies gives a clinical and human vision of these challenges based on the authors’ experience.
The leading evidence-based resource supporting better wellbeing for veterinary professionals The best way to tackle the unique nature of veterinary stress that can lead to anxiety, depression and suicide is to use evidence-based research to create an intervention able to have a scientifically measurable positive impact on wellbeing.That's why psychologist Dr Nadine Hamilton wrote this book after spending over 15 years researching, working with thousands of stressed vets, and consulting with industry associations, practice managers and owners. This unique resource combines reading on mindfulness, positive psychology, wellbeing, and resiliency training with a ‘toolkit’ of practical tasks and tips to teach people how to cope with everyday pressures, so they no longer feel like suicide is the only way out. Its approach has been tested with statistically significant results showing reduced stress, depression, anxiety, and negative affect. "As a vet of nearly 20 years experience, I cannot believe the difference that your book has made to the way I see myself, my profession, and my coworkers. I am genuinely enjoying being a vet again.” "There are copies of this book at every Greencross Vets clinic as a means to empower vets in their everyday routines. It's a tough conversation to have, but an important one.”Andrew McInerney, Chief Operating Officer, Greencross "I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It is an excellent resource. Every third-year DVM student at our school gets a copy of this book.” Prof. Anna Meredith, Head of Melbourne Veterinary School Being a veterinarian can be a rewarding, challenging and demanding career requiring a passion for animals, great interpersonal skills and a strong work ethic. It also has a dark and very dangerous side. The suicide rate for veterinarians is almost four times higher than the general population across the UK, Australia, US, New Zealand and Canada. The effects of working long hours, performing euthanasia on animals, emotional pressure, financial issues, unrealistic expectations, and dealing with distressed clients places considerable stress on both the vet themselves and their families at home. Failure to cope with such stress upsets mental wellbeing and can lead to serious emotional, physical, and behavioural issues. For some it leads to death. If we are to reduce this suffering we need to find out what hinders a vet’s wellbeing and use targeted solutions that work. In this unique book, psychologist Dr Nadine Hamilton presents an examination of the problem, the ways vet mental health is influenced by their daily work and the science we can use to tackle it head on. Drawing from the fields of positive psychology, acceptance and commitment therapy, career construction theory, and resiliency studies, she outlines a promising new weapon in the profession’s fight against suicide. Included in this book is a concise self-help version of her ground-breaking Coping and Wellbeing Program for Veterinary Professionals — an evidence-based psycho-educational intervention to educate vets on how to develop protective attitudes, enhance wellbeing, and increase their coping skills. This is a book for every veterinarian, veterinary student and veterinary nurse.
Compassion inspired your career. Don't let its flip side, compassion fatigue, burn you out. This practicalbook brings much-needed support to veterinary professionals, who encounter death three times moreoften than practitioners of human medicine. When Helping Hurts offers down-to-earth guidance on howto recognize and address the emotional challenges of caring for patients and clients who are grappling withillness, disability, or death.
This is the first guide to Veterinary Narrative Medicine, a cutting-edge approach in human medicine with multiple applications in veterinary medicine. The text combines the latest research with numerous real-world examples and practical techniques to improve client communication, patient care, and veterinary well-being. Narrative Medicine maintains that a patient should be viewed as an individual rather than an example of a disease process, and that this can be accomplished by using narrative. This book explores methods and theories from leaders in the human Narrative Medicine field while addressing topics unique to veterinary medicine. Readers will gain tools to help navigate difficult conversations and situations in clinical practice, including those involving the end of life. Narrative Medicine in Veterinary Practice also addresses the important issue of veterinary wellness. The ability to view the veterinarian's own stories and those of clients and patients as narratives may help practitioners maintain both emotional and work-place boundaries as well as decrease burnout and compassion fatigue. The book describes basic techniques to promote self-reflection and mindfulness, skills often overlooked in the veterinary profession which can improve resilience and increase the enjoyment of veterinary practice. This is important reading for veterinary practitioners, students, veterinary nurses, technicians, social workers, and all veterinary clinic staff.
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting 14% of all people at some point in their lifetime. Women are twice as likely to become depressed as men, but beyond gender there are a variety of risk factors that influence the prevalence and likelihood of experiencing depression. Risk Factors in Depression consolidates research findings on risk factors into one source, for ease of reference for both researchers and clinicians in practice. The book divides risk factors into biological, cognitive, and social risk factors. This provides researchers with the opportunity to examine the interface among different theoretical perspectives and variables, and to look for the opportunity for more complex and explanatory models of depression. - Allows reader to compare and contrast the relative states of development of different models and their databases - Examines the predictive power of these models related to various phases of clinical depression, including onset, maintenance, and relapse - Provides an examination of the therapeutic implications of comprehensive and integrative models of depression
Burnout and trauma related employment stress (TRES), which includes compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma, are increasing in prevalence as attrition rates, mental health disturbances, and suicide rates are climbing for those in the helping professions. This book highlights the imperative for prevention and early intervention using acceptance and commitment strategies. It includes cognitive, acceptance, and mindfulness techniques to assist the individual in achieving goals through values-based living. Among the topics discussed: Definitions of Burnout and TRES Prevalence rates of burnout and TRES in the helping professions Mindfulness and acceptance practices Defusion and cognitive techniques Values based goal setting Organizational responsibilities and strategies Assessment resources Burnout and Trauma Related Employment Stress will be a valuable resource for clinicians working with those experiencing the symptoms of TRES and burnout, as well as the individuals themselves.
