Changing the Culture of Mental Health and Wellness in Veterinary Medicine

Claudia S.P. Fernandez

A chapter in From Clinical Practice to Public Health Applications - The Successful, Sustainable and Scalable Outcomes of the Clinical Scholars Program from IntechOpen

Abstract: People working in veterinary medicine are experiencing a mental health crisis that is comparatively worse than in other healthcare professions. Previous attempts to reduce mental health burdens among veterinary staff have lacked empirical evidence to support their effectiveness. Additionally, high rates of mental health stigma are present in the field and may prevent treatment seeking. Our prior research demonstrated that reactivity to difficult client interactions contributes to poor mental health outcomes for persons working in veterinary medicine. We developed an Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) program to reduce reactivity associated with difficult client interactions. This educational program trains veterinary healthcare workers to notice their reactions to client behavior, acknowledge their own thoughts and feelings, and allow personal values to guide their response. Offering the program in the context of education rather than as a mental health intervention enhances receptiveness to learning ACT skills. A randomized trial showed the program demonstrated high rates of acceptability, frequent use of skills taught in the program, and reduction in key outcomes of stress, burnout, and mental health stigma compared to baseline and controls. We expanded initial trials by developing a self-paced course and partnering with nationwide corporate veterinary groups to offer the program through the organization's learning management systems. This sustainable and easily scaled self-paced program showed similar effects to the original version. Our work continues through the development of an interactive online version of the program. Through these systematic methods, we are changing the approach to mental health and wellness in veterinary medicine.

Keywords: veterinary medicine; stress; burnout; burden transfer; acceptance and commitment training; culture of health; culture of mental health; Clinical Scholars (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ito:pchaps:330961

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.115590

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