Wellness Resources

The MVMA Board of Directors has appointed a Wellness Task Force to determine the challenges MVMA members are facing.

They are also tasked to provide and develop resources needed to assist members with compassion fatigue, concerns about finances, burnout, overwhelm, problems balancing work and personal life, general fatigue, sleep problems, concerns about career, depression and more. The results of the survey conducted in June 2015 can be found here. 

As we work toward developing additional resources, please use the resources below or contact our office at mvma@michvma.org or 517/347-4710 for one-on-one assistance.  

General Resources

Risk Factors in Veterinary Medicine
Elizabeth Strand, PhD, LCSW, Director, Veterinary Social Work program at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, and Caroline Faust, DVM, also at the University of Tennessee, prepared this summary about risk factors for suicide, attitudes toward mental illness, and practice-related stressors.

Compassion and the True Meaning of Empathy, TED Talk
Buddhist roshi Joan Halifax works with people at the last stage of life (in hospice and on death row). She shares what she's learned about compassion in the face of death and dying, and a deep insight into the nature of empathy. 

Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project
This site has numerous resources we have found for caregivers working in many professions.  

Green Cross Academy of Traumatology
GCAT is an international, humanitarian assistance organization, non-profit corporation comprised of trained traumatologists and compassion fatigue service providers.   

Have You Reached Your Breaking Point?
Article Appeared in the Spring 2015 Issue of The Michigan Veterinarian

Finding Treasure in the Chaos
Article Appeared in the Summer 2015 Issue of The Michigan Veterinarian   

Everything Is Awful and I’m Not Okay: Questions to Ask Before Giving Up
Resource Article

Professional Quality of Life Website
The ProQOL is the most commonly used measure of the negative and positive affects of helping others who experience suffering and trauma. The ProQOL has sub-scales for compassion satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue.

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
Resources to improve psychological health and safety in your workplace.

AAVMC Wellness Toolkit
Sparked by the growing body of evidence showing that veterinary students and practitioners experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and that these factors impact productivity, career longevity, and enjoyment in practice, the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges hosts a Veterinary Health and Wellness Summit.

 

Crisis Information

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800/273-TALK (8255)
Computer Chat: SuicidePreventionLifeline.org/

The Listening Ear
517/337-1717

                                     Cyberbullying Hotline and Reputation Resources       
                                     Provided by the AVMA

Looking for a Therapist?
There are many factors that will determine who makes the best fit for you; consider things like your insurance, where you live, and if you might want a therapist who is close to home or work. Try searching on the Michigan Psychological Association webpage using the "Find a Psychologist" link in the top left corner. Or, visit your insurance provider webpage for a list of therapists covered by your plan. 

Mental Health Screening

Mental Health in America
Screening tools for depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
MentalHealthAmerica.net/mental-health-screening-tools

Another Mental Health Screening
HelpYourselfHelpOthers.org/

Referral Resources

American Psychological Association Help Center
APA.org/helpcenter/index.aspx

Michigan Psychological Association
Resources, including help finding a psychologist.
MichiganPsychologicalAssociation.org/

Wellness Resources from AVMA
AVMA.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/Personal/PeerAndWellness/Pages/default.aspx

VetLife 
Out of the UK.
VetLife.org.uk/

Michigan Health Professional Recovery Program (MHPRP)
HPRP.org/