PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Fall 2021 - 18

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Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health
References:
away from the profession. In the past
7 years, I have prioritized my mental
health and maintain an amazing therapy
team. My mental health has improved,
my work performance and satisfaction
has grown, and my ability to tolerate
stress and reduce anxiety has improved.
The most important thing to remember
is that you are not alone. If you need
immediate assistance, reach out to the
Crisis Text line by sending HOME to
741741. The National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline can be reached at 1.800.2738255.
Please seek care if you are
experiencing any of the following:
* Feelings of sadness or depression
* Extreme feelings or mood changes
* Withdrawal from friends or
favorite activities
* Inability to cope with stress or
feelings
* Thinking of hurting yourself or
others
If you are not sure where to start,
reaching out to your regular doctor can
be a good stepping stone. Ask them
for a referral or recommendation for a
therapist, medication, and/or assistance
in finding help. If you have access to
an Employee Assistance Program, this
program can offer confidential assistance
in finding free to low-cost services as well.
When looking for a therapist, it can be
frustrating due to unanswered calls or
messages, wait times to see a therapist,
or even finding the right therapist to work
with you. It can be discouraging but it is
worth the time and effort once you find
the right therapist for your needs. The
website psychologytoday.com is a great
resource to look for assistance in your
area using your zip code and insurance,
and it provides contact information as
well.
Self-care is something many of us in the
veterinary field forget to prioritize in our
daily lives. It is important to take care
of ourselves and this includes seeking
assistance for MHDs. It is essential
that we in the profession fight the
misconceptions and stigma associated
with MHDs. The ways that we can help
break the misconceptions and stigma
include the following:
* Talk openly about your own
experience(s) when you are
comfortable
* Show compassion and empathy to
others and yourself
* Educate yourself about the
misconceptions
* Be honest about your treatment, if
you are comfortable
* Train leaders to identify individuals
in emotional distress and give them
tools to assist associates
Together we can fight the stigma
of mental health in the veterinary
profession.
1. Gyles C. Surprising new findings on
veterinarians' mental health and well
being. Can Vet J. 2018. 59 (10) 1041-43.
2. Karaffa K. et al. Mental Health
Experiences and Service among
Veterinary Medicine students. 2019.
JVME. 46.4.
3. Hankier A. et al. Stigma and mental
health challenges in medical students.
2014. BMJ Case Report.
4. Knipe D. et al. Mental health in medical,
dentistry, and veterinary students: crosssectional
observational study. 2018. BJ
Psych Open. 4: 441-446.
5. Tomasi S. et al. Suicide among
veterinarians in the United States from
1979 thru 2015. J Am Vet Assoc. 2019.
254: 104-112.
6. Borenstein J. Stigman, Prejudice,
and Discrimination against people
with mental illness. August 2020.
Psychiatry.org. (https://www.psychiatry.
org/patients-families/stigma-anddiscrimination)
About
the Author: Jenn Bornkamp, DVM
graduated from Ross University School
of Veterinary Medicine. She completed
a large animal internship at Iowa
State University CVM and a residency
in anesthesia and pain management
at University of Florida CVM. She has
worked in academia and private practice
as a residency-trained anesthesiologist
and has recently moved from PA to NJ.
She has participated in the Power of
Ten Leadership program with the Iowa
Veterinary Medical Association and also
was an AVMA Future Leader. Keep an eye
out for her Facebook page, The Anxious
DVM, launching soon.
18 | Keystone Veterinarian
http://www.psychologytoday.com
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