The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), through its THRIVE veterinary wellness initiative has identified the need to “Prevent, Promote and Protect” the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary profession. THRIVE is an industry led veterinary wellness initiative that aims to support veterinarians and veterinary staff to lead satisfying, prosperous, and healthy careers.                            

The AVA also held the following position in their 2021 submission to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF) for a review of their, Animal Care and Protection Act 2001: Where complex social situations exist, it is recommended that the government create positions of “veterinary social workers” who could be separated from the legal arm of the government and who could coordinate services to the person in need

Professionals Australia 2022 survey of the veterinary profession provided the following information and recommendations on the health and wellbeing of Australian veterinarians and the veterinary profession:  

Workplace mental health support – a consistent theme amongst respondents was the complete lack of mental health support for veterinarians who developed workplace-related mental health issues.

While it remained critical to address the root causes of workplace mental health hazards (high stress, overwork, understaffing, etc) providing proper support to veterinarians who were struggling with their mental health as a result of their work was seen as essential.

Action is urgently required by the industry, Professionals Australia, and government to address long-standing problems in the veterinary industry.

For more information on the challenges facing the veterinary profession, read:

Dealing with difficult pet owners

‘People have unrealistic expectations’: Disturbing reality pushes vets to distress

The value of veterinarians to Australia: Public and private benefits”

Supporting the Human-Animal Bond     

There is a wealth of information and research available on the benefits to humans of the Human-Animal Bond.

For more information on the Human-Animal Bond and research relating to this, visit

MEDICINE AND HEALTH Can pets help cure loneliness? New research plans to find out.

HABRI

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary profession    

Veterinary Social Work (VSW) encompasses all three pillars of the AVA THRIVE program, in the support it can provide on a daily basis to the teams working in veterinary practice. 

The development and provision of VSW services can also be an action to address the problems as identified by the Professionals Australia survey.

To find out more about how Veterinary Social Work can support the veterinary professions, visit:

Meraki Social Work Services

Marie Holowaychuk