HEALTH - Veterinarians High Risk of Suicide #BellLetsTalk

With veterinarians experiencing high rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and death by suicide, initiatives like #BellLetsTalk take on a special importance to the animal industry.

                   

The rate of suicide in the veterinary profession has been estimated as close to twice that of the dental profession, more than twice that of the medical profession, and four times the rate of the general population.

The veterinary industry has recently started to take actions to address this issue.

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan has a social worker on staff to assist students and the Ontario Veterinary College has launched the AWAR2E group – Advancement of Wellness and Resilience in Research and Education.

A variety of organizations have resources available specifically for veterinarians and the AVMA recently offered free suicide prevention training.

                   

Debbie L. Stoewen authored Suicide in veterinary medicine: Let’s talk about it, in Veterinary Wellness for the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

Covering myths, risk factors, personality factors, warning signs and more, her paper is not only a detailed examination of the issue but a great resource to the veterinary industry.

Read the entire article.

HEALTH - Talking Mental Health on #BellLetsTalk Day

In 2010, Bell Let’s Talk began a new conversation about Canada’s mental health.

At that time, most people were just not talking about it.

But since its inception millions of Canadians, including popular personalities, have engaged in an open discussion about mental illness.

Bell Let’s Talk focuses on four areas: fighting the stigma, improving access to care, supporting world-class research, and leading by example in workplace mental health.

Not only is mental health a societal concern on its own, there is a link between mental health and physical health.

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario’s website:

“Nowhere is the relationship between mental and physical health more evident than in the area of chronic conditions. The associations between mental and physical health are:

1. Poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical conditions.
2. People with serious mental health conditions are at high risk of experiencing chronic physical conditions.
3. People with chronic physical conditions are at risk of developing poor mental health.”

To expand the connection even further, the One Health Initiative recognizes the link between human physical and mental health with animal and ecosystem health.

Everything and everyone is connected - human health can impact animals and the ecosystem, animals can impact human health.

It is estimated that one in three Canadians experience problems with their mental health each year.

There are coping strategies for people who are struggling and organizations to provide help and support - many funded by Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund.

Bell's total donation to mental health programs now stands at $79,919,178.55 and it is anticipated they will donate at least $100 million through 2020.

For every text, call, tweet, Instagram post, Facebook video view and Snapchat geofilter used on Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 25th, Bell will donate 5¢ more to mental health initiatives across Canada.

So commit to the health of all Canadians and start texting, tweeting, calling and viewing!

Bell's 'Let's Talk' Promotion Inspires Awkward Conversations

Yesterday, Bell's 'Let's Talk' initiative continued to raise awareness and funds for mental health. The Urban Animal industry has identified Compassion Fatigue as a dilemma that needs attention.

The Howie Mandel video clip from Bell's 2015 Let's Talk program is insightful. Why is it easier to talk about a dental appointment then visiting a mental health professional?

Perhaps the rising levels of depression and suicide associated with compassion fatigue will cause a more transparent conversation for this Urban Animal dilemma.

Mental Health & Pets #BellLetsTalk

Today is the sixth annual Bell Let’s Talk Day, when everyone is encouraged to talk, text and tweet about mental health to create a stigma-free Canada. Thanks to the commitment of George Cope, Bell has committed $73,623,413.80 to Canadian mental health through Bell Let’s Talk to date.

People with pets know their companions make them feel good, and research published by the American Psychological Association supports this - showing that pets can serve as important sources of social and emotional support for “everyday people”, not just those going through significant health challenges.

“The present work presents considerable evidence that pets benefit the lives of their owners, both psychologically and physically, by serving as an important source of social support,” the researchers wrote.

Non-profit organization Dogs for Depression, formed in 2009 based on its founder’s personal experience overcoming depression, provides online information to prospective emotional support dog owners about the healing benefits a dog can offer sufferers of depression as well as practical advice about selecting and training a suitable dog.

Animal assisted therapy, dating back to the 1940's, uses trained animals to enhance an individual's physical, emotional and social well-being, thus improving self-esteem, reducing anxiety and facilitating healing.

Pets offer companionship, an unconditional love, and can reduce tension and improve mood. As #BellLetsTalk texts and tweets fly across social media today, remember to give your pet a snuggle of thanks for the mental health support they provide every day.