Mental Wellness: World Mental Health Day
October 9, 2023
October 10th is globally recognized as World Mental Health Day, giving us all the chance to take a pulse on where our own mental health is at. There are many events that are outside of our control, which can have a major impact on our mental health. In the veterinary profession, team members may feel this stress regularly in the form of high expectations from pet owners or emergency situations. Here are a few ways to look after your mental health to work through these events.
Connect with Your Community
Engage with your local community through volunteer opportunities or community groups that are working to find solutions to issues that are important to you. In addition to giving your time, there are other ways to help others, which may help you feel better. You can find ideas on this random acts of kindness blog. Ideas like this can help you to feel more empowered, connected, and less alone.
Try Something New
Putting effort into learning something new can be a good distraction. Some ideas might include journaling, art projects, growing plants, reading a book, or watching a movie with another person or a group.
Step Outside
The act of being outside in nature can energize your mind and body. Creating a habit of a daily walk, or even a small bike ride to break up the day, can positively impact your mental wellbeing.
A trusted resource and group we continue to share is Not One More Vet, created by Dr. Nicole McArthur. Their mission is to provide support to veterinary professionals through peer support and education. You can also read over our blog post on stress management for more ideas on taking care of your mental health.
Written by: Saajan Bhakta, PhD (Psychology), Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, DirectorEmployee Experience
