HealthLinkBC Mental Health and Substance Use
This page from the Province of BC includes resources and links for a wide variety of mental health support for residents.
There are numerous mental health and substance use related services and resources available to British Columbians. The link below will take you to a short list of these resources. To search for all available services in the province, use the HealthLinkBC Directory. If you need help finding a service or a resource, call 8-1-1 any time of the day, any day of the year.
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/mental-health-substance-use/resources
Free counseling and peer support for all Canadians https://ca.portal.gs/
Not One More Vet Support and Emergency Grants nomv.org/apply-for-a-grant/
Not One More Vet also has a private Facebook group for support staff to share issues and get feedback or suggestions for support. https://www.facebook.com/groups/NOMVSupportStaff/
Veterinary Mental Health Initiative (VMHI)
Shanti’s Veterinary Mental Health Initiative (VMHI) was founded in 2021 because veterinarians and veterinary technicians are currently an underserved population with regards to mental health care and support. Veterinary professionals can struggle with high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality, in addition to other mental health diagnoses.
The most recent data (2019) states that the suicide rate is higher among veterinarians than the general population — 1.6 times higher for male veterinarians and 2.4 times higher for female veterinarians. Veterinary technicians and technologists also have a higher suicide rate than among the general population — 5.0 times more likely for males and 2.3 times more likely for females. Since the commencement of our life-saving initiative, VMHI has directly engaged with more than 200 veterinarians and veterinary technicians from across the U.S. and Canada.
Who VMHI Serves
We are deeply honored to serve all veterinarians and veterinary technicians who seek our support services, especially those from underserved minority communities with regards to ethnicity, race, religion and spirituality, age, sexual orientation, and/or disability. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians from these communities suffer from disproportionate access to mental health services, and are much more likely to be beset by stigma if they are able to find affordable care. With our support groups and one-to-one services, VMHI provides an empathetic and supportive space to foster well-being and resilience in the veterinary profession.
For more information, please email Dr. Katie Lawlor at klawlor@shanti.org. https://www.shanti.org/programs-services/veterinary-mental-health-initiative/
Indigenous Mental Health https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576088923626/1576088963494
Seneca College Acute Self-Care for Veterinary Professionals
There is a growing understanding and appreciation of the nuanced stressors impacting the well-being of animal-care providers, particularly those in veterinary and shelter medicine. In this practical microcredential, you will learn how to implement concrete tools into your daily practice that will improve your stress response, which in turn will elevate your overall well-being. Competency will be built in areas that can elicit immediate benefits including establishing boundaries, enhancing self-regulation and self-management, improving reframing as well as health promotion techniques.
Working professionals and students in animal-care settings (veterinary and shelter medicine) will benefit from participating. This includes staff and students at all levels of practice including veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, reception and managers.
This microcredential has been approved by the Ontario Association Of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT) for five Continuing Education credits.
Program Highlights
- sessions will be fully delivered online using both synchronous and asynchronous formats
- synchronous sessions will take place weekly on Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
- foundational material will be provided at the beginning of the week; tools will be practiced during the week and the synchronous portion of the microcredential will be utilized for deeper processing and application
- approved by the OAVT for five Continuing Education credits
https://www.senecacollege.ca/programs/workshops/SCV100.html#menu
CVMA- working together to prevent suicide in Vet med https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Nafw_KF3g
QPR Institute – Question, Persuade, Refer Three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. https://qprinstitute.com/
Canadian Violence Link Coalition https://humanecanada.ca/violence-link/?mc_cid=a4ddf8618c&mc_eid=69f913e36a
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention https://suicideprevention.ca
Suicide Prevention Planning
https://afsp.org/international-survivors-of-suicide-loss-day
Dr. Marie Halowaychuk, Reviving Veterinary Medicine Online Programs
Are you tired of trudging through life waiting for things to change? Do you struggle to prioritize self-care and family-time over work and professional demands? Do you read blogs and follow social media posts about wellness, but find it difficult to translate what you read into your own work and home life?
Marie offers wellbeing programs for veterinarians and veterinary team members looking to transform their life and stop stress and burnout.
These immersive online programs include weekly emails with exercises, weekly Zoom sessions, reflection exercises, and the support of others in the form of a private Facebook group. Registrants also have the opportunity for one-on-one coaching sessions with Marie, so that she can answer your specific questions and be your personal cheerleader throughout the program. All programs have been approved for continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE. https://marieholowaychuk.com/learn-with-marie/
LGBTQ2S+ Resources
The Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
QMunity https://qmunity.ca/
Pet Loss Support https://petlosspartners.com/pet-bereavement-b/
BC Bereavement Helpline https://www.bcbh.ca/
Running on Empty: Compassion Fatigue in Health Professionals
General Compassion Fatigue Information from Canada (Nursing study but still relevant):
When Helping Hurts: Compassion Fatigue in the Veterinary Profession
All you ever wanted to do was help. But before you can truly help your patients and your clients, you need to help yourself and your team. The only book of its kind specific to veterinary practices, When Helping Hurts: Compassion Fatigue in the Veterinary Profession utilizes helpful quizzes, case studies, and worksheets to not only help prevent compassion fatigue before it starts, but also to combat it once it occurs, improving the quality of life of everyone involved.
The Antidote to Compassion Fatigue, by Julie Squires
Julie is a compassion fatigue specialist who brings a unique perspective and approach to support the sustained energy and passion of animal workers. Her company, Rekindle LLC, offers on-site compassion fatigue training to veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and other animal organizations.
Julie has more than 20 years of experience within the veterinary field and with leading organizations. She has developed and executed training, workshops, and 1:1 coaching for major companies in the animal health industry. She obtained her certification as a compassion fatigue specialist through the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology and has also completed training from The Figley Institute and Traumatology Institute. Julie’s clients also gain from her experience as a certified health and wellness coach and corporate wellness specialist.
https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/articles/the-antidote-to-compassion-fatigue/