VETERINARY WELL-BEING
THE COLLEGE ENCOURAGES VETERINARY WELL-BEING
At the College of Veterinarians
of Ontario, we understand how
important mental health is among
the profession.
Whether a veterinarian suffers from
compassion fatigue, burnout, or from
substance addiction issues, the College
offers resources through its various
programs, and partners with other
organizations to provide assistance.
The College promotes a proactive
approach to veterinary mental health
that supports the individual. On licence
renewal, veterinarians are encouraged
to report on their mental health and
treatments they may be receiving. When
necessary, the College will follow up to
ensure the veterinarian is receiving or
received care or treatment. The goal is
for veterinarians to be well and receive
the supports necessary to achieve this.
The College has partnered with
Homewood Health to provide free,
confidential service to support the health,
well-being and resilience of veterinarians.
Veterinarians who need support are
encouraged to contact Homewood
Health for assistance and contact
information can be found on the College
website at www.cvo.org.
The College’s Quality Assurance and
Improvement programs encourage
veterinary well-being.
The Peer Advisory Conversation includes
a discussion on wellness. Veterinarians
have the opportunity to self-identify
any concerns using a validated external
tool (ProQOL) and are provided with
information about relevant resources
or supports. For example, through
the College website, veterinarians can
access an online learning module on
Compassion Fatigue. The self-study
module helps veterinarians recognize
the symptoms of compassion fatigue and
identify strategies for limiting its impact.
Through its partnerships with other
organizations, including the Ontario
Veterinary College (OVC) and the Ontario
Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA),
the College is aware of a number of
initiatives that focus on mental health
and wellness for veterinarians. At OVC,
AWAR2E (Advancement of Wellness and
Resilience in Research and Education)
is a mental health and wellness
research group working on initiatives
for veterinarians, student veterinarians,
and agricultural producers. Their goal is
to develop training and other support
programs for both veterinary students
and practicing veterinarians. OVC also
has a student club THRIVE (Teaching
Healthy Resilience in the Veterinary
Environment). This group aims to
bring awareness to mental health and
encourage students to prioritize self-care
and build resilience. The OVMA Member
Assistance Program has many tips and
resources on mental health awareness,
as well as expert advice and counselling
available to members, their spouses,
and dependents. Further, the OVMA has
established imatter (www.i-matter.ca) to
help equip Ontario veterinarians with
knowledge and strategies to cope and
respond to the challenges they face in
their professional and personal lives.
Some mental health disorders, including
substance abuse, can lead to impairment
that impacts a veterinarian’s ability to
practice safely. When these are brought
to the College’s attention, steps are taken
to support the veterinarian. The College
takes a rehabilitative approach rather
than a disciplinary or punitive approach
and may involve Homewood. The goal
is for the veterinarian to safely return to
practice.
It is important to discuss mental
health in the veterinary profession
openly without fear of judgement. The
College aims to support veterinarians
in their mental health and provide the
necessary resources and assistance.
Veterinarians can be proactive by being
aware of their mental health and seeking
help before it impacts their ability to
practice safely. Staying healthy, both
physically and mentally, ensures that
veterinarians can continue to enjoy
and be successful in practicing their
profession and serving animals and the
public well.
More information can be found on the
College website at www.cvo.org
HOMEWOOD HEALTH PROGRAM
Confidential Ontario Toll-free Line:
1-866-750-3207
The Homewood Health Program is a free, confidential service to support the health,
well-being and resilience of veterinarians.
Stay Well - Your health is important to your competence.
Instilling public confidence in veterinary regulation cvo.org 3