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Innovative app reopens stress debate
stressed vet
When asked about the most stressful aspects of their work, graduates reported being on call and complex medical cases among other factors.
Radar app could support veterinary students and new graduates

The Samaritans charity has launched its Radar app that will notify Twitter users if people who they follow on the site appear to be suicidal. This might provide useful support for veterinary students and recent graduates suffering from stress-related anxiety and depression.

There is no doubt that levels of psychological distress are elevated in the veterinary profession compared with the general population. Vets also show a greater tendency towards suicide, with a proportional mortality ratio for suicide of around three to four times that of the general population – with younger vets, in general, experiencing higher levels of stress than their older colleagues.

The subject of combatting stress in veterinary practice was the subject of an article in the Spring 2014 edition of Veterinary Practice Today. When veterinary graduates were asked what they felt were the most stressful aspects of life in practice, they responded with the following:
  • No mentoring system within practice
  • Being on call
  • Large animal visits
  • The sudden transition from life in vet school to an environment where they felt cut off from support
  • Complex medical cases
  • The responsibility of lone decision making
  • Reluctance to ask too many clinical questions of their colleagues
That is an interesting list.

Today’s veterinary students and new graduates are very social media savvy and according to the 2014 RCVS Survey of the Veterinary Profession, 94 per cent of those aged between 20-29 have a Facebook account and just over 13 per cent visit Twitter – many of them for business purposes as well as social networking. Although the Samaritans are still working on a Facebook adaptation of the Radar app, the Twitter version might just prove to be a life-saving, safety net for some young veterinary professionals who may be struggling with some of the points above.

However, despite the availability of an increasing amount of support, there remains a great deal of work to be done upstream from the immediate problem. Veterinary bodies including the BVA, BSAVA and Vetlife, have long provided helplines for veterinary professionals who are suffering from stress and depression; but aspects of life in practice, such as ‘being on call’ and the ‘responsibility of lone decision making’, should really not come as a great surprise to graduating veterinary surgeons.

Working as a veterinary surgeon is a hugely challenging role. The observations in the list above clearly beg the question as to whether there is sufficient trampling on ‘rose-tinted spectacles’ by career advisers, vet school selection boards and practising vets when potential vet students present themselves for consideration in the first place.

 

 

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Free bloat webinar planned for dog owners

News Story 1
 The Kennel Club is inviting dog owners to attend a free webinar on gastric dilation-volvulus syndrome, also known as bloat.

Part of its health webinar series, the session will take place from 7pm to 8pm on 12 November. It will explore what scientific research has revealed about causes, symptoms, breed susceptibilities, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options, as well as looking at what future research could uncover.

The talk will be hosted by Mark Dunning, professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of Nottingham, and will include a 30-minute Q&A session.

Places can be booked here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
FIVP to represent independent practices at London Vet Show

The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) will be at stand (S05) at this year's London Vet Show.

The not-for-profit organisation will be explaining how its expertise and resources can help independent practices to thrive in a competitive industry. It will also share how it has been representing independent practices in the ongoing CMA investigation.

On Thursday, FIVP member Steve Carter will be available to discuss how veterinary surgeons and nurses can pursue practice ownership.

FIVP will also be offering independent practices three months of free membership if they sign up at the stand.

Rita Dingwall, FIVP business development manager, said: "It's a wonderful opportunity to discuss our representation in the CMA enquiry and connect with like-minded individuals who share our passion for independent practice."