The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has recently partnered with Health insurance provider Petsecure Pet Health Insurance to create The Working Mind, a novel mental health program for veterinary teams.

The Working Mind is structured as a training course designed to address the inherent workplace stress faced by individuals in the veterinary field. Program attendees, including both veterinary managers and employees, have reported improved attitudes toward mental health distress, increased resiliency during difficult times, and an overall increase in mental and emotional well-being.

Petsecure veterinary medical director and CVMA member Colleen Fisher, DVM, MSc, says, “Veterinary practices employ very resilient folks who move from the joys of fluffy kitten wellness exams in one room to the sorrow of euthanasia of a pet in the next – and all the emotions and experiences in between. At Petsecure, we believe in solutions that allow veterinary teams to do what they do best—practice great veterinary medicine.”

CVMA president, Trevor Lawson, DVM, elaborated, “It is clear from participant feedback that The Working Mind courses teach healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress. This, in turn, cultivates a healthy work culture which positively correlates with high well-being, low burnout, and absence of serious psychological distress in veterinary professionals. It is imperative that we offer this type of support to our hard-working veterinary teams so we can ensure a healthy and safe future for animals, clients, and the public.”