Honoring World Mental Health Day with 5 must-read wellbeing articles

Editor's note: This article includes discussion of suicide, depression, and mental health issues. If you're experiencing feelings of depression or suicidal ideation, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK; 800-273-8255; suicidepreventionlifeline.org). It's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter what problems you are dealing with, people on the other end of the line will help you find a reason to keep living.

Today marks the annual celebration of World Mental Health Day, an “opportunity for all stakeholders working in mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide,” according to The World Health Organization (WHO).

Mental health is no stranger to the veterinary profession. With the disproportionate risks of suicide, depression, anxiety, and burnout, your mental and physical wellbeing depend on adequate self-care. Raising awareness about mental health and reducing the stigma is what WHO aims to accomplish. Acknowledging the significance of wellbeing and mental health in veterinary medicine can help those who are suffering in silence.

The following 5 articles offer both guidance and resources for anyone looking to improve their overall wellbeing. Take a look:

• Starting a global dialogue about mental health in veterinary medicine: Results from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) online survey illustrate that stress and diminished wellbeing are a significant problem in the veterinary profession worldwide. Learn all about the steps WSAVA is taking to advance the health and welfare of veterinary teams around the world.
• Keeping calm and carrying on: Wellbeing tips during the COVID-19 pandemic: This year has challenged all aspects of our mental prowess. Here are some strategies to help keep your team calm so they can best serve their clients and patients.
• Veterinarian wellbeing study finds improved awareness, but not enough action: Although our attitude towards mental health has improved, many veterinarians are still not seeking treatment. Here’s what you need to know.
• Suicide Prevention: How to be someone’s person: After sharing her own personal story about suicide and depression in veterinary medicine, Meghann Berglund, DVM, shares useful tools to those battling their own inner darkness.
• When a friend is hurting, surely there’s more than the suicide hotline: Here are some alternative things you can do to help a veterinary colleague who is considering suicide or suffering from dark thoughts.