Wellness

07 May

President’s Message: Habit #4 – Win-Win

wsvma   |   Wellness

Greetings and good wishes to all of our WSVMA colleagues. I hope this edition of the newsletter finds you well and thriving. With the arrival of spring, the relaxation of Covid mitigation protocols, increasing rates of vaccine distribution, and the return of longer daylight hours with the promise of warm sunshine, it’s easy to feel optimistic about the future. Since my last column, the board and our WSVMA organizational team has been pushing forward to position our organization for excellence as...

Read More
09 April

Self-compassion: a courageous act of self-care

wsvma   |   Wellness

As time goes on, this pandemic is more of a marathon than a sprint. When looking forward, it’s important that we use our marathon-running skills, rather than our sprinting skills, to ensure that we’re able to bounce back and flourish when life gets back to normal. Self-compassion is a great tool to help you thrive during challenging times. Compassion is a sensitivity to or awareness of the suffering of others and a desire to ameliorate it. Self-compassion is focusing that awareness...

Read More
26 March

Free to the profession: Suicide prevention training

wsvma   |   Professional News, Wellness

Veterinary medicine is a community, and a community supports its members. For that reason, the AVMA is pleased to begin offering free training in suicide prevention to all veterinary professionals. The free training – known as QPR gatekeeper training, short for “question, persuade, refer” – has been available to AVMA and SAVMA members for several years as a pilot program. More than 2,500 members have completed or begun the training, and their positive feedback fueled the decision to expand the program to the...

Read More
12 March

Joint Statement from AAVMC/AVMA Regarding Mental Health and Suicide in the Veterinary Profession

wsvma   |   Wellness

  This has been a difficult year for many, and in the past week, we have heard reports of veterinary colleagues who have died by suicide. Mental health concerns are complex and multi-faceted, and although we may not fully understand what an individual is experiencing, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) know that our profession can work to offer hope and help save lives. There are supports and resources available for those...

Read More
17 December

COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for veterinary professionals

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Wellness

As reported last month, the WSVMA has been advocating with Gov. Inslee’s office and with the Wash. Dept. of Health for veterinarians and their teams to be included in Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination distribution plan. In late October, we sent a letter and have followed up with them again to reiterate the important reasons why veterinary professionals qualify for early vaccinations. Veterinarians and veterinary teams contribute directly to supporting the food and agriculture industries, providing services that are...

Read More
06 November

Healing and preventing burnout by creating conditions for health

wsvma   |   Wellness

The daily, grinding stress so often experienced by people in the helping professions is what causes the psychological injury we know as burnout. Burnout is a state of depletion – mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion – that leaves us feeling drained and overwhelmed, unable to meet the constant demands that created the problem in the first place. Like any other injury, burnout is best prevented. The good self-care that helps us heal from psychological injury also helps us prevent it. Healing...

Read More
09 October

Top Suicide Prevention and Veterinary Medical Organizations create post-suicide guide for veterinary workplaces 

wsvma   |   Wellness

A colleague’s suicide affects everyone. When someone you know or care about takes their life, it’s not uncommon to experience significant grief, and even physical and mental health impacts. In these circumstances, critical support is needed to help those left behind. A new guide offers that critical support for veterinary team members. This free resource, After a Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces, was created by the AVMA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and released in partnership with the...

Read More
11 September

Washington Wildfires

wsvma   |   Wellness

The WSVMA has not yet received reports on losses within the veterinary community from the wildfires, but early reports indicate that the large Cold Spring Canyon Fire has been responsible for loss of livestock, feed and supplies. No numbers are available as yet. The Washington State Dept. of Agriculture (WSDA) has been monitoring the situation across the state but the Veterinary Reserve Corp has not been deployed. The WSVMA has reached out to veterinarians in the affected areas and have offered...

Read More
21 August

Requirements for workers with medical and disability issues that prevent the use of a cloth face covering or mask?

wsvma   |   Practice Management, Wellness

Face shields alone do not prevent the spread of COVID 19 and do not meet the face-covering requirement. Employees with a medical or disability issue, who are requesting accommodation, must provide their employer with an accommodation statement from their medical professional specifying that a face covering or mask should not be worn due to their present health condition. Employers cannot just allow the employee to work without a mask with no other mitigations or accommodations. Employers should assess any negative impacts...

Read More
07 August

New Washington COVID-19 resources for wellbeing

wsvma   |   COVID-19, Wellness

The Washington State Department of Health's (DOH) COVID-19 Behavioral Health Group Impact Reference Guide describes normal mental and emotional impacts that may manifest in the workplace. Stress over risk of job loss, changes in the nature of work, or personal challenges may contribute to lost productivity. Employees grappling with increased anxiety or stress may be irritable or forgetful. The DOH guide offers information that can help employers recognize symptoms of mental or emotional distress and offer relevant support strategies. The pandemic...

Read More