Mind over Matter - Issue 2

INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

STANDING COMMITTEEE ON WELLNESS (SCOW)

AUGUST 2017 ISSUE 02

MIND

-over-

matter

CONTENTS

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IVSA SCOW Find out what activities SCOW organized during the 66th IVSA congress in Malaysia

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INTERVIEWS! POSITIVITY Read the 'positive news' to start your day on a happy note.Â

KNOWLEDGE = POWER Check out these great videos and TedTalks to educate yourself

Read the experiences and opinions with regards to wellness of students and vets from all over the world ! Can you relate?

6

FINANCIAL STRESS Find out more about financial stress and read some of our tips and suggestion to help you

Chair's note

It´s with great pleasure that we publish

Don’t take these words as some kind of

another edition of the Mind over Matter

pessimist view on life, but as something that

Journal, an edition that brings personal

unites us all, something that we can all share

insights on wellness, stress and life

no matter the differences we may see or feel.

accomplishment. After a year of existence we

Lastly as my final appearing as chairman of this

at SCoW are incredibly proud to be a part of

committee in the Mind Over Matter, I want to

this on going, growing discussion on mental

thank my entire team for the honor that was

health and the fall of the stigma around such

working for real change alongside them!

subject.

Thank you for Reading!

In a personal point of view I believe that honesty to self is the most important characteristic to acquire and work on because only by looking deep inside who we are we´ll be able to deconstruct and understand the causes that lead us to unwell behaviors.

Practicing understanding and tolerance collectively admits a destruction of a barrier that we have grown between us in order to

Xavier Canavilhas

fulfill the expectations we sometimes believe

CHAIR OF THE IVSA

that others will have for ourselves, however in some way, shape or form, we are all as fragile as the next.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON WELLNESS

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

MEET THE NEW SCOW CHAIR! TAYLOR STRANGE My name is Taylor Strange, and I am a third-year veterinary student at Texas A&M University. I am proud to be the 2017-2018 Chair of the Standing Committee on Wellness for IVSA! My passion for wellness education began with my family and the struggles we have faced around mental illness.

Through this, I have come to realize that every person’s wellness looks different. I now understand how critical it is that we provide a variety of resources for each person to find their own recipe for a healthy life. I am also passionate about this committee because it is something that affects every single one of us. We all will have struggles through our challenging curriculum, inside and outside of the classroom.

My goal is to make sure that as we go through these trials, we have all the tools we need to take care of ourselves, our colleagues, and our patients. I am looking for a team to join me in this mission. If this journal resonates with you, if you have great ideas for wellness activities, or if you just want to give back to this amazing organization, consider running for wellness committee 2017-2018.

HO W DY !

Applications will be out in September, and I hope to see your name. Don’t want to run for the committee, but you still have great ideas? Contact us! We would love to hear your voice. Is your MO or local chapter struggling with morale or wellness activities? Contact us! We have resources and want to help. Anything else you have questions about? Contact us! Can’t wait to hear from you. No matter where you are in your curriculum, in the world, or in your lifewe hope you can turn to your IVSA family to help.

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

THIS SEPTEMBER BECOME A MEMBER OF THE IVSA STANDING COMMITTEE ON WELLNESS 2017-2018

Keep an eye on the Facebook Page for the 'Call for Applicants' !

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD CAN'T BUY YOU BACK GOOD HEALTH QUOTE BY REBA MCENTIRE

Money. Loans. Debt.

These are words that come up frequently when discussing stress factors with veterinary students from all over the world. There are differences between countries when it comes to average income, minimum wage, costs of living, tuition fees and the amount of student debt, but it's a concern in all countries.

What is it about money that makes students so stressed?

Many students struggle with being unable to be financially independent.

For most vet students, it's impossible to study and support yourself without taking out a student loan or financial support from your parents. Although this might relieve the stress of not having enough money for basic needs, it does create a different type of stress as a result of the frustration and disappointment that comes with being financially dependent.

Anxiety because of the financial situation can occur because someone may not have enough money or because the amount of student debt seems impossible to pay off.

There also seems to be a kind of 'Money Shame' amongst students that struggle.

For some reason, having financial difficulties or having a big student debt is embarrasing for students and makes them feel like failures. This is absolutely unnecessary and more people need to be aware of the issue of 'money shame'.

By studying, you are investing in your education and your future. That is NEVER something to feel ashamed about. No matter how much help or how many loans you need to do it.

'The Independent' wrote the following as a summary of a recent study done in the United Kingdom: "..the study showed symptoms of anxiety and alcoholism worsened over time for those who struggled to pay the bills, while those who were more stressed about graduate debt had higher levels of stress and depression."

Let this quote, this article, this journal and other campaigns teach you that almost everyone struggles to support themselves while studying. Even though it can be overwhelming at times, do not let it overpower you or determine your life.

With this article, we hope to inform you and offer some tips and suggestions to help you manage your finances and take control of your financial situation. We're not claiming that these suggestions are a 100% recipe to success but they can help you.

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

GOING THROUGH THE STAGES OF: FINANCIAL STRESS

Denial

Loans don't feel real when you are not paying them off yet. Most students do not even know how much money they owe. And at that point, you do not really know how much $ 100.00 actually is. In this stage you're still thinking 'Student Loans? I'll pay them off easily when I have a job waaaaay in the future'

Anger

This is when you start to realize how much your student debt is or how much more money you need to support yourself. But! you blame everything and everyone else: greedy landlords, high tuition, the government, low wages, etc. Though that all may be true, it will not help you improve your situation..

Maybe..

..if I marry a lawyer, my debt will be paid off easily.. ...I could buy a ticket and win the lotery? ..there are loopholes in the payment plans?

This is the stage where you think of all the 'unrealistic' ways your financial situation could be resolved. Better than anger but still..

Depression

You realize there is no magical fix for your money problems.

You feel like a failure because success equals money, right? You think you are the only one who was 'stupid enough' to get into debt and you're never getting out. Hang in there, ask for help and ask your friends and fellow-students about their situation..

ACCEPTANCE The Final Stage

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

READ OUR TIPS /SUGGESTIONS BUY BETTER QUALITY CLOTHING Single items of clothing might cost more but they last longer and you go shopping less often which will actually help you save money!

By cooking your dinner and even lunch yourself, you will save a lot of money. Try eating with a group of people (roommates?), this will make it even cheaper.

TIME TO MOVE?

DITCH THE CAR Try to walk or bike more. A 30-min walk is still easy and enjoyable. Plus, it's good for your health. Consider taking public transport for longer distances. It'll save you a lot of money for gas!

Get a parttime job! You can take it easy and just work a few hours a week.

There are lots of jobs that are student-friendly, just be open-minded and creative! Consider jobs like 'uber driver', 'AirBnB host', 'pet-sitter', 'tutor', etc...

One of the biggest problems with money is that you are never fully aware of how much you have an how much you're spending. Therefore, making a budget can make ALL THE DIFFERENCE in your financial situation. It gives you more insight in how much money you have to spend and it'll help you prioritize what you want to spend money on.

Check out the next page for websites and apps that help you set up your budget!

COOK!

WORK WORK WORK

BUDGET! BUDGET!

Why do you live where you live?

Consider moving to a new place with lower rent or that's closer to work/school to save money on the commute. Some cities/town actually offer financial rewards for moving there!

SMALL + SMALL = BIG Change your 'Oh it's just $2' mind set. Those $2 expenses can very easily turn into $100 a month.. Not buying coffee at Starbuck EVERY day will save you at least $100 a month! Cut it out...

LOAN FORGIVENESS PLANS Some companies, organizations and NGOs offer 'Loan Forgiveness Plans' to their employees or volunteers. Make sure to check if the job you're applying for (whether it's paid or voluntary) includes plans like these!

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Don’t let making a living, keep you from making a life

by John Wooden

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HOW TO MAKE A BUDGET Having a budget, helps you keep track of your finances. Try out a weekly or monthly budget, whichever you prefer. You can use word, excel or different websites/apps to create a budget.

Let’s use the example of using excel for a monthly budget. You can either use a design already set up by excel or you can learn how to make your own budgets.

OR LEARN HOW TO CREATE YOU OWN! Divide a worksheet in 2, for example columns A through D will be your Expenses section and F through I will be your Income section.

Fill in ‘Expenses’ in cell A1 Start by making a list in column A of all your expenses, starting at A3! Think about school supplies, food, coffee at starbucks, gym membership, phone bill, beauty products, travel costs, insurance, rent, fun things (concerts, theme parks, trips with friends, alcohol! etc.). You can look at your expenses of last month to really get a good overview. It’s better to include too much than too little. Done?

Then in column B, think how many times you’re going to spend money in this section. For example; you will buy food at the store 3 times a week which comes down to 13-14 times a month. Fill in 14.

In column C, think how much you will spend each time you spend money on an item. For example; each time you buy food, you’ll spend around € 20,-. Fill in 20. In column D, for each item fill in the amount equal to B*C. For example, it will be 14 * 20 = € 280 a month for food. Fill in ‘=B3*C3’ which should be 280. Repeat this for each section.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT EXCEL DESIGNS *choose 'College' instead of 'Family Budget'*

When you’ve estimated your expenses for each item, at the bottom you can calculate the total amount by using =SUM(D3:D20) and it will calculate it automatically. If your list continues till D42, fill in =SUM(D2:D42) of course.

Fill in ‘Income’ in cell F1.

Now make a list of all your sources income in column F, start at F3. Think about grants, scholarships, salary, support from parents, tax return, etc. If you have annual income (like a grant), divide that amount by 12 and add it to your monthly budget. Then in column G, fill in how many times a month you’re expecting income from each source (most of them will be one). In column H, you fill in the amount you’re expecting from each source with each payment. In column I, you fill in ‘=G*H’. Repeat this for each source of income. Finally, fill in the formula to calculate the total income at the end of your list (same as you used for expenses)

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CALCULATING IF YOUR BUDGET FITS A few lines below the total you fill in the following: For example, you’ve filled in the total for expenses in cell D30 and income in cell I17. Then write ‘total expenses’ in cell A33 and ‘total income’ in cell A34 and ‘balance’ in cell A 35. In cell B33 you fill in the # of the cell for your total expenses, in this case ‘=D30’ .

In cell B34 you fill in the # of the cell for your total income, in this case ‘=I17’.

Now, in B35 you will fill in the formula ‘=B34-B33’. There you will see the amount of money you have left. If the number is negative (like -40), you are spending more than you’re earning!

Look at your end result and decide if you need to change your budget, most likely changing your expenses. This will help you see how much you can spend and how much you’re willing to spend on what. It’ll help you prioritize and have a clear picture of what you can and can’t afford.

We’re using the English terms, such as SUM. If you Excel is set to a different language, use the formula in your language.

In this example, I also played around with borders, lines and highlights. It helps give a better overview and helps you see the more important parts straight away.

There are websites that help you build a budget in an app or just on excel. Check them out:

HERE or here

or HERE or HERE

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SCOW AT THE 66TH IVSA CONGRESS KUALA LUMPUR & KELANTAN - MALAYSIA Three members of SCOW - Xavier, Kelsey and Robinn - travelled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 24th of July for the 66th IVSA Congress. Their goal was to inform IVSA members of the work of the committee but more important to raise awareness on the wellness issues in the veterinary profession as well as creating some activities that promote wellness in a positive way. The IVSA congress is an amazing event to do this since the 240 delegates represented 35

countries from 4 different continents.

As a committee, we had several ideas throughout the year of the activities that could be held during congress. Some proved to be unrealistic or logistically difficult to execute but we managed to organize a handful of activities. All the brainstorming and planning resulted in a; workshop, compliment bags, ‘I am also’ board, exercise and music.

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

WORKSHOP Xavier, the Chair of SCOW 2016-2017 delivered the 5th workshop focussing on wellness during the ExCo workshops. The workshop on wellness was the living proof that with the right ambience, we can learn and grow a lot from each other. More than just introducing techniques and concepts, we were able to connect individually and recognize main traits that made us create that bond and share meaningful experiences. To finish that nice moment, we took some time to do a cinnamon roll hug to release all the stress and just have some fun!

COMPLIMENT BAGS After the success at the IVSA Special General Assembly (SGA) in Raleigh, USA in January 2017, Robinn and Kelsey had created and hung up ‘Compliment Bags’. Each country had a bag with their flag on it in which other delegates could leave compliments for the delegates from that country. Besides it’s nice visual aspect (see photo below), it is a great activity that spreads positivity which is important in stressful environments which an IVSA congress can definitely be. This is a very easy project to execute and can be done at your university too! You could hang up bags within your class or a bag for each class to create a positive attitude in your university.

I'M NOT JUST A VET Another activity you can do at your university is the ‘I-am-also’-board.

This can either be white board, chalk board, white poster, a big wall that you can write or stick post-its on. In the middle you will see the start of a sentence ‘I am not just a vet, I am also..’ Any person can write something on the board of something they feel like they are. The answers can be anything from ‘cook’ to ‘the life of the party’ to ‘Harry Potter fanatic’. This shows that nobody can solely be defined as a vet (student) and that no one should be. By sharing your passions and interests, you’re showing that your life does not only revolve around vet school as it shouldn’t! We encourage to set up this project in your university as well, it’s simple but effective!

As you can see, all these activities promote wellness in a different way and there are many many more activities you could organize such as cooking classes, hikes, team sports (e.g. volleyball, soccer, hockey, etc.), talent shows, acts-of-kindnesscampaigns and much more! Whatever activity you think would be suitable for your university, just go for it! And don’t forget to let us know if you’ve organized any kind of activity to promote wellness as we’d love to share it on our Facebook page and these journals.

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IT’S TIME TO TREAT THE ‘ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM’ - by Jayne Ellis (EF Training)

Every year employers and governments spend millions developing and implementing training and strategies to help keep staff and customers physically safe in the workplace. They also spend millions on sick pay where staff are off with stress or other mental health related issues, many of which can be directly attributed to the work they do.

The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2030 depression will be the leading global burden cause of disease in the world. But instead of addressing this, it is largely ignored or given very little priority. In fact, in some areas it’s not spoken about at all as if acknowledging the fact that the work itself could be damaging to an employee’s mental health would be admitting some sort of liability!

This is the 'Elephant in the room' and it’s time to acknowledge its presence, examine and treat it.

“VETS IN THE UK HAVE A SUICIDE RATE 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION AND TWICE AS HIGH AS THEIR HUMAN HEALTHCARE COUNTERPARTS” (TREMAYNE 2010) What is it about the veterinary profession that makes this the case?

Vets do report high levels of stress and there are many theories about the causes which include, poor workplace relationships, career concerns, issues with clients and unrealistic expectations. Rosie Allister, chair of Vet Helpline, points out that ‘the veterinary profession has an occupational culture of perfection and self-sacrifice, independence and omni-competence which is totally unachievable.’

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Australian vet and bereavement counsellor David Foot states:

“WE ATTRACT A HIGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGH ACHIEVERS AND ‘CARETAKERS’, HIGHLY INVESTED IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OTHERS THROUGH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION BUT NOT SO GOOD AT IDENTIFYING AND MEETING THEIR OWN” (JONES 2011) Could it also be that it is the type of person attracted to the profession that makes them more likely to suffer from stress and compassion fatigue? Former West Australian Turf Club veterinarian Peter Symons, who has himself suffered from stress and related medical issues, explains that “vets are often do-ers (working to get through many jobs in a busy day), perfectionists (a trait required to get good marks to enter the course, and to survive the intensive tuition) and carers (the reason why they were drawn to the profession in the first place).”

When you examine the evidence, you see that the profession attracts high achieving young people who are unused to failure, have a very strong compassionate drive, are highly motivated and are perfectionists. They are joining a profession that is very hard on itself with very unique stressors and this combination can for many people be a recipe for disaster.

MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this problem and to suggest that there might be is totally unrealistic and simplistic. It is absolutely clear to me that the ‘elephant in the room’ can no longer be ignored – it’s presence must be acknowledged and the profession must go further and embrace it as part of the solution.

awareness My experience has clearly demonstrated that awareness is the key first step.

Organisations and individuals who to turn and face the elephant and look at it closely, can see the problem for what it really is and start to look for effective solutions.

To raise awareness, we have to get people talking about it. Mental illness is a real thing – I learnt this having suffered from stress and anxiety on a number of different occasions throughout my life. All too often the fear and stigma surrounding it means that it is only talked about in hushed tones and away from other people or not at all.

People prefer to hide it away and pretend they are ‘OK’ but this can, in extreme circumstances lead to the person feeling that no one understands and that the only way out is suicide.

In his bestselling book, Depressive Illness – The Curse of the Strong, Dr Tim Cantopher points out that ‘clinical depression is every bit as physical a condition as pneumonia or a broken leg’ and that it is the ‘most misunderstood of all illnesses.’

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self-compassion Most people are suspicious of the idea of self-compassion as it sounds horribly close to self-pity, is overly indulgent and is almost an admission of weakness!

SELF-COMPASSION IS, SIMPLY PUT, A TWIST ON THE “GOLDEN RULE”: IT IS THE ACT OF DOING UNTO YOURSELF AS YOU ALREADY DO UNTO OTHERS To do your job effectively and gain satisfaction from it requires you to give of yourself in body and mind. We know that physical resources will be depleted and it is relatively obvious what is required to recover; if you are tired you can rest and if you are hungry you can eat.

But what about emotional resources?

Compassion and empathy are just the same as physical energy and, if not renewed, will simply run out. The elation you feel from helping another does not balance the resources required to achieve that help. Without selfcompassion, you will eventually burn out, and along the way you will suffer from the effects of compassion fatigue.

compassion fatigue In the late 1990’s American Traumatologist Charles Figley realised through his work supporting staff who cared for traumatised people and animals that, as a result of vicarious trauma (our inability to effectively differentiate between trauma that has happened to us and that which we witness), these staff were showing the same symptoms as those they cared for.

He called this this compassion fatigue.

prevention It is rarely sufficient for people working in a caring role to be able to cope with the emotional demands of their job simply through awareness of the potential dangers of the role and subsequently taking responsibility for caring for themselves. Those who train, manage and support these staff have an equal responsibility to put measures in place inside the workplace to adequately support them.

It is simply not enough to just give ‘lip service’ to the issue and write about it in journals. There needs to be a mandatory requirement to provide emotional health and safety training for staff in the same way that we provide physical health and safety.

IF YOU DON’T CARE FOR YOURSELF PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, COMPASSION FATIGUE IS AN INEVITABILITY AS THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH OF YOU LEFT TO CARE FOR ANYONE ELSE

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The emphasis MUST be on prevention as well as cure. It must include pre-event intervention not just deliver post-event diagnosis.

What are the chances that the contents of the first aid box in corner will prove adequate if you didn’t know that the animal you are about treat might be dangerous, and therefore taken no precautions?

affects them and their loved ones. We help them re-connect with why they came to be doing their job and focus on why it is important to them whilst reminding them that they are not the job but a person doing the job!

We then work through a toolkit of different strategies to help the participants become more resilient and enable them to give themselves

YOU ARE NOT A VET YOU WORK AS A VET IT’S TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE, EMBRACE AND TREAT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM; DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEMS AND COME UP WITH REALISTIC AND LASTING SOLUTIONS. Staff who attend our Compassion Fatigue Awareness Training come from many different professional backgrounds and are trained to recognise the symptoms and stages of compassion fatigue not just in themselves but in others. We openly discuss stress and the causes of it, often unique to their working life, and look at how and why this affects them. The training can be emotional and intense at times as staff explore their feelings about their job and how it

permission, when required, to put themselves and their own needs first.

Some of these techniques require a degree of commitment and learning new skills and others are much more simple and straightforward. We have found, through ongoing monitoring of the participants, that all those who came on the course left feeling better and more able to take care of themselves and that these changes are sustainable.

“AS I SAID AT THE TIME, THIS TRAINING WAS THE BEST AND MOST RELEVANT TRAINING THAT I HAVE EVER RECEIVED. IT’S HAD A MASSIVELY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE TEAM AND ME PERSONALLY.” BEN, JUN 2017 (COURSE PARTICIPANT NOV 2016)

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IT’S TIME TO TREAT THE ‘ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM’ - by Jayne Ellis (EF Training)

REFERENCES

LINKS

Allister Rosie Supporting Practices After a Suicide.

Veterinary Wellbeing (July 2016)

Mental health – To help our Colleagues do we need to change ourselves: Vet Futures: (Dec 2015)

Cantopher Tim Depressive Illness. The Curse of the Strong: Sheldon Press (2012) Figley Charles Compassion Fatigue: Coping With Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder In Those Who Treat The Traumatized. Routlage (2015) Jones Helen Burnout, an Occupational Hazad we cannot Ignore. The veterinarian (Nov 2011) Tremayne Jessica UK Suicide Study prompts Call to Act Veterinary Practice News (2010)

Click here

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ATTITUDE IS A LITTLE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. - by Winston Churchill

Hard day in the clinic? Stressed with all the work you have to do? Can't focus on studying? Just read the news, it'll cheer you up... Not likely, right?

THINK AGAIN! These websites are filled with 'good news' stories. Just a little positivity to cheer up your day. Some are just cute stories but some are actually good articles about important progress made in science or politics for example.. Just take a look - you won't regret it!

POSITVE.NEWS Positive.News is a websites that publises articles or positive news on topics such as wellbeing, art, economics new advances in technology, medicine, environmental sciences and much more!

click here GOOD NEWS NETWORK Goodnewsnetwork published articles and videos that will make you smile.

The content of the news is sometimes a little let serious than Positive.News but it'll definitely get you in a good mood!

click here

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INTERVIEWS WITH VETS AND STUDENTS WORLDWIDE In every article or presentation the following sentence always comes up 'You are not alone..' or 'everyone feels like this at some point..', Although we hear it, how do we really know if others feel like this to? The answer is: by talking about it and sharing opinions. That is why SCoW has created a list of questions to interview students and veterinarians from all over the world. By doing this, we hope to show you that you are truly not alone. We will be posting interviews in multiple issues of 'Mind over Matter'.

The next few pages include some interviews with students from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa and the Netherlands as well as veterinarians (such the President of the World Veterinary Association, Vetgirl and the President of the Brisith Veterinary Association) We will use quotes from the interview or summarize a few answers all together. Some people preferred to remain anonymous so we will share their opinions and experiences and their nationality but not their name of course...

Interested in being interviewed?

Send an email to studentwellness@ivsa.org and we will send you the questionaire! (there is a box that you can select if you wish to remain anonymous.)

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Malcolm Chong

Does your university and/or your teachers in vet school encourage you to take part in extracurricular activities?

"My university (specifically my faculty) does indeed encourage, or more specifically support extracurricular activities. To that end, the university has been very supportive of me attending IVSA events and activities, even when missing class. The faculty also arranges for sports events, nature explorations, and fun events throughout the year.

They do, however, have a much greater focus and emphasis on studies."

What do you think are the biggest factors of stress within vet school?

"I think the biggest stress factors are simply the massive volume of data that has to be worked through, understood, and remembered. The expectations of those around us (students/lecturers) are also very huge stress factors in Vet School."

Have you ever felt, depressed or unhappy?

"Absolutely."

IVSA President 2016-2017 IVSA Trustee 2017-2018 studies in Kelantan, Malaysia

"I THINK THAT THE LACK OF TIME AND RESOURCES TO DO MY FAVOURITE ACTIVITIES, HOBBIES, AND VOLUNTEERING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HAS BEEN A HUGE STRESS FACTOR. HAVING FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES GETTING MARRIED, HAVING STEADY JOBS, AND STARTING FAMILIES WHILE I’M NOT EVEN DONE SCHOOL HAS ALSO BEEN A STRESS FACTOR IN LIFE." Did you get any help?

I managed to get support from my family, and some close friends took notice and came to support me and bring me for meals. I owe them a lot.

Do you worry about graduating? "... I do worry about graduating, that I might not be as competent as I would like to be, but that’s something that pushes me to work harder to achieve as much as I can while I’m still a student!..."

"..I BELIEVE THAT IVSA CAN ACT AS A FORM OF “SUPPORT NETWORK” WHEREBY STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CAN RELATE TO EACH OTHER AND HELP EACH OTHER OUT, KNOWING THAT VET STUDENTS EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD FACE THE SAME PROBLEMS...."

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Dr. René Carlson

Do you do any extracurriculair activities?

"Yes, as a person in national and global leadership positions, I volunteer a lot of time to organized veterinary medicine because I believe it is very important, not only for the profession, but for my own continued long-term excitement about veterinary medicine. It gives me the opportunity to meet people from all career paths, learn about cutting edge technology, procedures, and strategies, and it challenges me. While I was in practice, I believed being involved in organized veterinary medicine locally and regionally gave me state-of-the-art practice ideas to build a better workplace for profit, employees, patients, and their owners. Most importantly, I believed I could have a positive impact on these two associations, our profession, and on animal and public health policy.

On a personal note, I enjoy learning Spanish, reading, birding, walking our two dogs (Mona Lucy and Ally McBeagle), singing in our church choir, and spending time on our sailboat in Lake Superior, the largest fresh water lake (by surface area) in the world!"

Was doing well in school important to you? "..Yes, doing well at all my activities is important to me. We are a competitive lot, aren’t we?.."

World Veterinary Association President 2014-2017 AVMA - Director of International Affairs

"...I AM STILL VERY BUSY WITH LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES BOTH NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY. ALL THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE DEADLINES. MY PERSONAL LIFE DOES NOT USUALLY HAVE SPECIFIC “DEADLINES” FOR MY ATTENTION LIKE MY PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE..."

Do you think being a vet is stressful?

"Yes, more than I ever realized. I could not believe how much more relaxed I was once I was not in private practice anymore, even though I loved it most of the time for 35 years. I think the demands on us to save all patients, deal with the grief of patient loss with the owners, the high expectations from owners due to the increasing humananimal bond, and our sense of responsibility to our patients and clients takes so much mental and physical energy, more than we realize."

Have you ever felt, depressed or unhappy?

"Sure"

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What do you think are the biggest factors of stress within vet school?

"Currently? From a perspective of someone no longer in veterinary school and in practice? Pressure from educational debt (which I did not have long ago), peer pressure to excel, pressure to make decisions on career experiences (externships) or a job choice, test stress, pressure to compete for a limited number of internships and residencies especially for the one you really want, great expectations and workload of a difficult curriculum, fatigue from lack of sleep and clinical rotations, easy access to emotional “crutches” (alcohol, drugs, pain killers, etc.), communicating with owners, anxiety about the incoming emergency, and the emotional struggle over treating an animal that needs help and the cost to pay for it resulting sometimes in unnecessary euthanasia. These all can lead to emotional, physical, and mental fatigue, compassion fatigue, or worse, such as depression and loss of hope."

"..I BELIEVE IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS, AND ASSERTIVELY ESTABLISHING A TREATMENT PLAN TO RESOLVE AN ISSUE SOONER THAN LATER."

MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Do you think about your level of stress?

"Unfortunately, I eat when I am stressed.

Not healthy. Yes, I think about the health risks of stress. I try to do something I enjoy when I get stressed – take a walk, play a word or online game, read a chapter in a book, listen to music, or take a nap. My husband can tell when I am tired (and crabby) and so I take a nap. I have committed to more time with friends. They are my support group along with my husband, but significant others take a lot of our anxiety and stress. It is better to be a happy and supportive significant other rather than a needy one. Build a separate network for additional support other than only your family."

When did you feel depressed/unhappy? "...I was overwhelmed when I built my own clinic and worked alone for three years under some pressure from family about the debt. I eventually decided to hire an associate for my own mental and physical health, which helped a great deal. She was a choice and we worked very well together.

After a health scare it was difficult to adjust to the new normal. It was frustrating to have to accept some of the persistent side effects after having very good health. A sense of humor helps..."

Interested in all Dr. Carlson's answers? Keep an eye on our Facebook Page and website!

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Dr. Justine Lee

Do you do any extracurricular activities?

"Yes, I like to exercise - ultimate frisbee, running, kickboxing, ice hockey, hiking, waking the dog, etc. Other extracurricular activities include traveling, reading, gardening, walking, and parenting!"

Do you think you spend enough time on your personal life?

"I work part-time and am also a parttime mother (as of the past year). After 20 years of practice, I’ve been very lucky and fortunate to be able to achieve good work-life balance [between my veterinary career, lecturing, working on my small businesses (e.g., consulting, VETgirl, etc.), and starting a family.]"

BIGGEST STRESSORS IN VET SCHOOL "THE OVERACHIEVING PERSONALITY OF VETERINARY STUDENTS, THE MASSIVE DEBT ACCUMULATED DURING VETERINARY SCHOOL, THE FEELING OF BEING A LITTLE FISH IN A BIG POND WHILE IN VETERINARY SCHOOL!" Have you ever felt, depressed or unhappy?

"Yes."

also known as VETGIRL

"..During the first year of my residency at University of Pennsylvania, I really struggled with suicide ideation due to some ongoing personal life struggles that I was going through..."

Did you get any help?

I did not seek help, but I should have. I relied on 2-3 good friends to help “counsel” me, while also seeking some new extracurricular activites to find mental health (e.g., ice skating, hiking with my dog).

"...I THRIVE OFF STRESS AND TRY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT SO I CAN STILL BE PASSIONATE ABOUT MY WORK CAREER AND BALANCE IT WITH MY PERSONAL LIFE. TO RELIEF STRESS, I EXERCISE (E.G., KICKBOXING, ULTIMATE FRISBEE, RUNNING, HIKING, ICE HOCKEY, WALKING THE DOG). I ALSO SPLURGE ON SELF CARE (E.G., A MONTHLY FACIAL OR MASSAGE, NICE HAND CREAMS, EXPENSIVE DINNERS OUT, ETC.) AND ON TRAVEL (E.G., VACATION!) TO RELIEVE STRESS AND MAINTAIN GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE..."

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Denise van Eekelen

Does your university and/or your teachers in vet school encourage you to take part in extracurricular activities?

"My faculty does encourage and support extracurricular activities. Becoming a good veterinarian is not only a result of studying, but is partly a result of people developing themselves. Doing extracurricular activities can help a lot with that.

My faculty has for example also been very supportive of me being so involved in IVSA and is very willing to help organizing local and/or international events at our faculty!"

Do you feel like you spend enough time on your personal life?

"Well, honestly, I would have loved to say yes. But especially last year, being in the Executive Committee of IVSA, I do not feel I have spent enough time on exercising, leisure activities and I certainly haven’t spent as much time with my family and friends as I wished to. In the four years in vet school before this year in ExCo of IVSA, I do feel I could spend quite some time on my personal life, but it is all about balancing well!"

What do you think your university/veterinary association could offer that could help?

Actually, I do not think they could offer more than they do right now. Maybe

IVSA Secretary General 2016-2017 IVSA Trustee 2017-2018 studies in Utrecht, the Netherlands

some ‘support sessions’ during which students can talk with each other/staff members/veterinarians about the problems or stress they face.

"..I WILL DEFINITELY STILL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT I AM SURE I’LL LEARN A LOT WHEN I FINALLY GET TO WORK AS A VET!.."

Have you ever felt, depressed or unhappy?

"Yes, I have felt unhappy sporadically, but I have never felt depressed."

"GENERALLY, I THINK STUDYING VETERINARY MEDICINE IS STRESSFUL, BUT EVERYONE COPES WITH THE STRESS IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY."

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Dr. Gudrun Ravetz

British Veterinary Association President 2016-2017

Is doing well in school important to you?

Dr. Gudrun Ravetz has been the President of the BVA for almost a year now. She spoke to one of the SCoW members over the phone. Here you can read a summary of their conversation and some of her quotes!

When we talk about extracurriculair activities, it became very clear very quickly that Dr. Ravetz is no stranger to busy schedules and multitasking. Even when studying she's always had parttime jobs and played sports. She said that these things are important to here and therefore she will make time for it.

Personal Life As President of the BVA, she does not feel like she spends enough time on her personal life but this is something she prepared for and she has accepted.

Luckily she has a very supportive network of friends and family and especially a supportive husband.

Stress Although stress is present in almost all jobs and it does not have to be a bad thing, it becomes concerning when it becomes a negative influence. Dr. Ravetz thinks that the different with other jobs might be that there are more coping mechanisms in place there. Especially smaller practices may not have these mechanisms for vets to deal with stress.

"...IT SHAPED ME TO WHAT I AM NOW. I WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN INTO VET SCHOOL OTHERWISE. I HAD A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT HELPED ME PUSH MYSELF.."

University support While Dr. Ravetz, graduated in 2002, was a student, the university did offer some support networks. These were both academic as peer-systems. However, she says:

"..THE PROBLEM IS THAT PEOPLE CLOSE DOWN WHEN THEY GET OVERWHELMED AND DON’T ASK FOR HELP.."

BIGGEST STRESSORS IN VET SCHOOL "..OUR OWN EXPECTATIONS. WE ARE THINKING WE HAVE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN ALL OF THE TIME. WE PUT TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS ON OURSELVES. WE FEEL LIKE NOT GETTING GOOD GRADES WILL AFFECT US IN THE FUTURE. THE VETERINARY DEGREE WAS NOT THE HARDEST THINGS I’VE DONE BUT IT WAS THE MOST WORK.."

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Effect of BVA Presidency on Wellness When we ask Dr. Ravetz how she experienced her year as BVA President, you can hear the passion in her voice when she answers "It's been fantastic, a very very positive experience" Even though it has been hard and stressful, it challenged and pushed her which gave her opportunities and confidence she did not have before. She seems very appreciative when she closes with:

"..IT'S BEEN A COLLABORATION WITH MY FAMILY.."

The Veterinary Family The theme for her Presidency was "the Veterinary Family". When we asked her why she choose this theme specifically she explained that the different roles in veterinary medicine should be pushed to the forefront more. With this year, she tried to celebrate the different roles vets have as well as addressing the importance of being a team with your colleagues. It's important to keep in mind that a work environment can become very stressful if you don't get the dynamics within the team right.

MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

THE IMPOSTER SYMDROME "..I HAD IT TOO ‘I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE HERE’. IT CHANGED GRADUALLY BUT A BIG PART WAS ACCEPTING THAT I HAD THOSE FEELINGS AND HAVE A PEER-NETWORK TO DISCUSS IT WITH. JUST SAYING ‘I CAN DO THIS’ HELPS. IT’S AL ABOUT CONFIDENCE, AS SOON AS YOU HAVE IT, YOU WILL DO IT AND YOU CAN DO IT. IF I MAKE A MISTAKE I’LL LEARN FROM IT AND GET OVER IT..."

Role of the BVA Dr. Ravetz shares with us that some of the biggest roles of the BVA are to - raise awareness - offer support/resources - get rid of the stigma She mentions that many people still see having mental health problems as a 'weakness'. It is time to get rid of this stigma and creating a culture of support

".. If you do feel stressed and it’s becoming a negative influence - just speak up! It doesn’t make you any less of a vet. Most people go through it at some point.."

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Dr. Mark Johnston

Does your university and/or your teachers in vet school encourage you to take part in extracurricular activities?

"I suspect I did rather more extracurricular activities than they would have liked. I was a Modern Pentathlete and also was Master of the Cambridge University Draghounds"

Do you think you spend enough time on your personal life?

I enjoy what I do so I am happy to do the extra hours which I do.

Since my mother became ill and died two years ago I have taken my health more seriously. I now take more exercise, attend Pilates classes and am trying to follow an Intermittent fasting regimen (essential missing breakfast so only eat between 12 noon and 8pm, to keep my weight under control. So far so good and I have managed to keep away from chocolate biscuits.

Have you ever felt, depressed or unhappy?

"Absolutely, on many occasions."

- since we wanted to share Dr. Johnston's experience, we've dedicated the next page solely to his reply of 'Can you tell us when and why you felt depressed' -

Vetstream Managing Director

Did you get any help?

I managed to get the funding for my PhD, and changed direction.

I also continued to suffer from burn out for a few years. I did seek out help and benefited from talking to a psychologist and changing my work life balance. It was nearly too little too late. If I had stayed at the practice I would have “hit the wall” big time.

"..THE CULTURE IN VET SCHOOLS CAN BE UNHELPFUL. SOME LECTURERS KNEW THEY ALL THAT THEY NEEDED TO KNOW AND SOME WERE TOO READY TO EXPECT STUDENTS TO KNOW AS MUCH AS THEY DID. THEY WERE DISMISSIVE AND BELITTLING IF WE DIDN’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS TO ALL THEIR QUESTIONS THE WHOLE TIME. HOW COULD WE KNOW AS MUCH AS THEY DID IN THEIR SPECIALIST SUBJECT WHEN WE HAD TO LEARN ALL SUBJECTS IN VET MEDICINE IN A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME, NOT JUST THEIRS?.."

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Can you tell us when and why you felt depressed/unhappy?

"When I was doing too many of the general anaesthetics in equine practice and not getting enough sleep and time away form work. I definitely developed compassion fatigue and was close to “burn out”.

My day job was looking after flat racing thoroughbreds and was regularly asked to on the one had perform complex clinical diagnostic processes and then on the other, be more than a little economical with the truth about insurance certificates etc. I was told firmly by one of the partners at the practice on my first day at the practice, to never ever ever ever do anything that I felt uncomfortable about. I was asked almost daily by clietns to “help them”. I adhered to the advice I was given and was very grateful to him for giving me permission to resist that client pressure which would have come nad bitten me if I had allowed myself to do what they wanted me to do.

I struggled to find a way out of the equine work. My peers and mother could not understand why I did not want to stay and become a partner in the leading equine practice in the country.

"..It was certainly very scary dealing with patients, owners and the complexities of being part of a business for the first six months.

After a while the fear was less impactful as i grew my confidence and self-belief..."

MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

I had had enough and needed to change direction but wanted to stay in the vet profession so I pursued my research project into perioperative equine fatalities (CEPEF) for a PhD, which was quite a challenge as I by now had a family and so earning was a factor, but i could not see myself standing in an operating theatre for the next 30 years of my professional life.

My father took his own life when I was 10 years old which made me VERY much more aware of people’s emotional states.

I hope I am able to talk to people and go where others who may not know what to say because they have not been in such a place.

I am passionate about supporting my colleagues and am doing all I can at Vetstream to help colleagues on Vetlexicon have access to resources and help to support them when they are not in a good place. I am very happy to talk about the challenges of being in practice and have done a lot of reading about mental health and welfare and our psychological make up in recent years and want to reduce the numbers of colleagues who get into difficulties, become depressed, resort to abusing drink or drugs and some even consider taking their own life.

As vets we are blessed with an understanding about science and how it applies to science and yet too many of us as vets and nurses become unproductive, leave the profession or worse.

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Anonymous students

Does your university and/or your teachers in vet school encourage you to take part in extracurricular activities?

"Yes, but they do not recommend specific activities. They prefer us to choose the activities that we enjoy the most. As life is more than just studying." (South Africa) "Not really, because they think the loading of vet course is incredibly heavy, students should not spend time on activities aside from sports, which grants students physical ability."

(Taiwan) Do you feel like you spend enough time on your personal life?

"Not really, my life is full of studying, tutoring, and other activities such as IVSA, and thus, I almost got no time for myself." (Taiwan) "Yes, I think others might say no because they have too much work and are not prioritizing what is most important for them. Time management is also crucial."

(South Africa)

"...I BELIEVE THAT THE GRADING SYSTEM IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO EVALUATE OR MEASURE ONE’S POTENTIAL." (THAILAND)

South Africa Thailand Taiwan

What do you think are the biggest factors of stress within vet school?

"The amount of work we have to learn and the constant ethical debate with ourselves. This means that we are learning not only to heal animals but to do that we have to teach people and save the people first. This is not what we expect when we applied for vet. There’s too many aspects to consider to help improve animal welfare and that is a big stress factor." (South Africa) "Workload, exams, and competitive atmosphere" (Thailand)

".. I AM AFRAID I CANNOT BE THE PERSON I WANT TO BE.."

(TAIWAN) Does your university offer any help or information on stress for vet students?

"Yes, we have had lectures and talks about it. The school also provides psychiatrists to help students who are really struggling. " (South Africa) "No" (Thailand) "Uh. No." (Taiwan)

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

Do you ever think about your level of stress? Is there anything you do to relieve yourself from the stress you feel?

"I used to, but not recently. I take the time off, sometimes even skip classes when I feel that I’m not well enough and just relax, watch movies, play games. I only do this once or twice during the semester, especially near the exam period." (Thailand)

Did you get any help?

Yes, through disscussing the problem with others. (Taiwan)

"Yes, I exercise or I cook or I just watch movies and series." (South Africa)

"No, I only talked to my friend about it. I started doing Bullet Journaling and writing a blog." (Thailand)

Have you ever felt, depressed or unhappy?

"Yes" (Thailand) "Yes" (Taiwan) "Yes" (South Africa)

Can you tell us when and why this was?

"Mostly in second year of my studies due to work load and the question of whether I can actually make a difference in an animal’s life. I felt like I will be stuck in a loop treating animals. As people are the ones who causes harm to animals so why am I trying so hard to save them if they will just fade away in the end. I struggled with this concept especially with production animals. " (South Africa)

"No I didn’t get help, I just spoke with my friends and family and I slowly accepted that this is just how the world is. Being a vet is not for the animals, it is to ensure that the people are safe." (South Africa)

Do you feel prepared for life as a veterinarian?

Do you worry about graduating?

"I am not prepared at all. I do worry about it, but I will take it one day at a time and go with the flow. I cannot decide what life will bring me but I can choose how to handle it when it comes. ." (South Africa) "No, I don’t feel prepared.

Yes, I’m extremely concerned.."

(Thailand)

"..I CANNOT DECIDE WHAT LIFE WILL BRING ME BUT I CAN CHOOSE HOW TO HANDLE IT WHEN IT COMES..." (SOUTH AFRICA)

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO FILL IN THE SURVEY ON STUDENT WELLNESS

with the results of this survey, we can really make a statement and fight for our students worldwide!

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

CLICK HERE!

so click on the link, spend 10 min. filling in the survey and help us and your fellow students!

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

WELLNESS & BSAVA - by the british small animal veterinary association (BSAVA)

“Supporting you throughout your veterinary career” is the ambitious claim that the British Small Animal Veterinary Association makes on its website about the services it provides for members.

For most of its history, that has just meant organising scientific meetings and publishing the manuals that help veterinary practitioners around the world in adopting the best approach to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in pet animals.

BUT WHAT IF IT IS THE CLINICIAN RATHER THAN THE PATIENT THAT NEEDS THERAPY? As a professional body, the BSAVA also has a responsibility to help ensure that its own members are physically and mentally fit to deal with the daily challenges of practice life.

So, for the past two years, the association has been running mental health training days across the UK. These are intended to help its members to better understand the causes of common psychological problems such as stress, anxiety and depression, to recognise the early signs in themselves and their colleagues, and to take the necessary steps in providing mental health ‘first aid’.

MIND MATTERS INNITIATIVE (MMI) The meetings are the BSAVA’s contribution to the Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) launched in 2015 by the statutory body for the UK veterinary profession, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. This was a response to the alarming findings of studies that showed that there are high levels of dissatisfaction and workrelated stress in UK vets, resulting in a range of mental health problems – and a suicide-rate three times greater than that for the general population. It is even more disturbing that veterinary authorities in many other countries across the world have reported similar issues.

MMI has the backing of all the main veterinary organisations in the UK, including the Association of Veterinary Students, which represents all those studying at the country’s seven veterinary schools. For the BSAVA, it made sense to show support by organising training meetings and providing funding so that members could attend free of charge.

“They have been extremely popular.

During 2016, we held meetings for members in each of the 12 BSAVA regions around the UK and we have repeated that this year. The audience for each session is between 20 and 28, and so by

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the end of the year there will be nearly 600 people who have undergone this training - not just qualified vets but also students, veterinary nurses and lay members of the practice team, such as receptionists and admin staff,” explains Jennie Bartholomew, education coordinator at BSAVA headquarters.

These workshops are presented by Trevor Bell who has more than 30 years’ experience working in occupational health, and for the past 10 years has run his own company providing training for small companies in a variety of industries.

The workshops that he runs are intended, he says, to help people better understand the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and to learn how to communicate with colleagues who appear to be struggling. Those attending are given basic information about how to start that difficult first conversation about a colleague’s problems and to point them in the direction of professional help. Vet staff also learn something about how to recognise when they themselves are having difficulties and are offered advice on maintaining their own mental health.

Mr Bell says there is much to envy vets in the job that they do. “It is a fantastic profession and it attracts really caring empathetic people. But they are often having to deal with difficult emotional situations for their clients, especially over things like euthanasia and that does take its toll.”

MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

“..WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO HAVE A 100% SUCCESS RATE IN EVERY TASK THAT WE DO BUT THAT JUST ISN’T ACHIEVABLE...”

Those stresses are compounded by the problems encountered in any small business trying to keep afloat in tough economic times - financial pressures, bureaucratic issues and the challenges of dealing with colleagues and the general public. Clients are becoming ever more demanding and will increasingly use social media to let the world know when things go wrong. “We would all like to have a 100% success rate in every task that we do but that just isn’t achievable.”

The world is complicated but for Mr Bell and others providing mental health training in countries across the globe, the solutions are often very simple, he says. “Vets are trained to assimilate information quickly and to formulate an appropriate treatment plan. But if you have a colleague who is suffering from a mental health issue, forget it, that approach isn’t going to work.”

“Often all you need to do is to be a friend and to give the person someone who will listen to them and not interrupt or judge them. That is something that is within the capabilities of everyone.”

He explains that there is a lot of misinformation around about the causes and treatment of mental health problems. “One of the big myths is that if you have a problem with depression,

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nxiety, etc, it is going to follow you around for life. That is not true, as for most people the problem is one that they will recover from. That is a really important message that people need to understand.”

Mental health awareness training also tries to diminish the stigma that still surrounds psychiatric problems and can deter people from seeking help.

MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

for advice and treatment. “I am pretty confident that things will get better in the future,” he says.

Professor Liz Mossop, director of teaching at the University of Nottingham, says colleagues from all schools meet up to discuss how they can provide better support for students with mental and physical health problems and to encourage them to develop the

“IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY. ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE IN THE UK WILL NEED HELP AND SUPPORT TO DEAL WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE AT SOME TIME IN THEIR LIVES.” One of the barriers to tackling psychological problems in the workplace is that unlike many physical problems there are no obvious outward signs. The early indications that a colleague is suffering from poor mental health may be subtle behavioural changes – sudden mood changes, increased irritability and either increased absences from work or its exact opposite, sometimes called “presenteeism”, in which people linger around the workplace because they are unwilling to go home and deal with the problems they face there.

mental resilience that will help them deal with any future challenges.

At the Nottingham school, for example, students are encouraged to take a ‘five a day’ approach to developing a healthy mind, like the five potions of fresh fruit and vegetables per day recommended by the UK Department of Health to maintain a healthy body. So students should take part in at least five activities each day that are among those needed for a healthy mental state, for example, by encouraging exercise, a good diet and adequate sleep.

Over the past year, Mr Bell has been asked to speak to students at most of the UK veterinary schools and says he has seen encouraging signs that staff and students are already familiar with the messages that he gives to his audiences. In the past, mental health issues were something that had to be hidden from view, he says. But even before going to university, today’s school students are taught about the sort of pressures that can cause mental health problems and are told who to approach for advice

Just as they will in their professional careers, students will depend on their colleagues to identify problems that they may not admit to themselves. “We have a student-led initiative called Look Out for Each Other which aims to ensure that there is someone there to talk to when you have problems. The idea is not to turn our students into professional counsellors but to train them to listen to their contemporaries, to be alert to when they are having problems and to point out where they can go for help.”

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

TED TALKS DEPRESSION IS A DISEASE OF CIVILIZATION Dr. Stephen Ilardi is a professor of clinical psychology and the author of The Depression Cure: The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression Without Drugs. The author of over 40 professional articles on mental illness, Dr. Ilardi is arecognized expert on depression. In this TEDx Talk, he explains how physiologically depression exists in this society and has become a global epidemic. It is highly interesting to listen to and it will get you thinking for sure. Check it out yourself

CONFESSIONS OF A DEPRESSED COMIC Kevin Beel makes depression relatable even to those who do not feel like they are depressed. It is a fresh perspective on the wellness isues in our society. Raising awareness does not only mean that you have to inform everyone of the facts and treatment but make them understand the person who is suffering from depression.

Kevin does just that. Definitely worth watching.Â

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MIND OVER MATTER - ISSUE 2

We'd love to hear and share your thoughts, what you're doing to improve your wellness or raise awareness on wellness issues in the veterinary profession.

Did you give a workshop or lecture? Did you organize an event? Did you hang up posters in your university? Share it with us so others can get inspired by your initiative. We're publishing interviews with students from all over the world in the next issue. Do you want to be interviewed? Send us an email!

YOUR ARTICLE IN THE NEXT ISSUE? Send your article to studentwellness@ivsa.org! Make sure you send the word version (with as little layout as possible) and your article is not longer than 3 pages