Veterinary medicine opens many doors: Meaningful work, sense of community, lifelong learning, enhanced animal welfare, commitment to public health, the list goes on. But down the hallway stands another door—and nearly 10 percent of veterinarians and up to 20 percent of veterinary staff will pay a visit at some point in their career. What’s on the other side? Mental health challenges severe enough to warrant treatment.
At the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, we know what it’s like to face those challenges, whether the door was opened by burnout, compassion fatigue, or any number of other veterinary-specific hardships. That’s why this Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re ushering you down a different corridor: “Inspire by FVMA.” Here, Florida’s veterinary professionals have access to entryways of guidance, recognition, and real-world tools. Where do these paths lead? Two essential landmarks: relief from psychological distress and career fulfillment.
WHEREVER YOU ARE IS THE BEST PLACE TO START
Every well-being journey is unique. For example, your goal may be to address a specific mental health challenge, or it could be to continue flourishing within your role. “Inspire by FVMA” is committed to Florida’s entire veterinary community, even those without an FVMA membership. To properly serve all veterinarians, veterinary staff and veterinary technicians, we provide both reactive and proactive support based on factors like current stressors, long-term vision and everything in between.
Whatever your goals are and wherever you stand, now is the perfect time to get started. To begin the journey, complete the intake form at fvma.org/inspire and congratulate yourself for taking the first (and arguably hardest) step. From there, our mental health professionals will help you create a plan and act with three therapy or coaching sessions free of charge. If you need additional sessions to reach your goals, we’ll also help you secure discounted rates to continue your progress.
FOR VET PROFESSIONALS, BY VET PROFESSIONALS
When someone truly understands, it makes all the difference in the world. This lesson was integral to FVMA Professional Well-being Committee Chair Phil Richmond’s own recovery journey — a courageous battle against psychological distress and substance use disorder. “I didn’t know there was a door numb er three, I didn’t know there was another option. Thank God my colleagues, the owner, one of the other vets, and the head technician… they saved my life,” said Dr. Richmond.
Putting this insight into action, “Inspire by FVMA” takes a wholly veterinary-informed approach to mental health and career development.
Every single therapist, coach and social worker involved in the program is familiar with the
challenges that veterinary professionals face, equipping them to support our community on a deeper level. Also, having a foundation of familiarity bridges immediate gaps, allowing you to focus on treatment without the costly and time-consuming process of finding the right fit.
THERE’S NO LIMIT TO PROGRESS
Our team is here for you, even as you accomplish and evolve your goals. In addition to therapy and coaching, “Inspire by FVMA” drives progress with offerings like the Well-being Champions initiative. Through this, our team recruits, supports and enables veterinary professionals to turn lived experiences into free interventions that support well-being. One example of this was an initiative to raise awareness about well-being and its impact on personal and professional life.
To achieve this, we utilized practical strategies like assessments to establish baselines, nudges to encourage small actions, and tactics to gather feedback and measure improvement. Taking this value one step further, these interventions are informed by anonymous, macro results from PERMAH (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment and Health) analyses available at no cost to individual veterinary professionals or at a discounted rate for practice-level assessments. Also, “Inspire by FVMA” provides guidance to help vet practices elevate existing employee assistance plans (EAPs) and facilitate new EAP coverage. These are just a few ways the program fuels perpetual progress. Just like you, we’re committed to continuing our goals and reaching new heights.
HOW WE’LL SUCCEED: TOGETHER
If there’s anything we’ve learned throughout our careers in veterinary medicine as well as our journey to develop this well-being program, it’s that goals are more attainable with a team by your side. “Inspire by FVMA” wouldn’t exist without our incredible network of veterinarians, veterinary staff members, therapists, coaches, social workers and our generous partner, Blue Buffalo®, whose underwriting commitment has made this program possible.
As you consider participating, remember that you aren’t alone. Not only are we all better off with support, it is something that we all deserve. In the words of FVMA Executive Director Jim Naugle, “This program represents an investment in the people who make this profession what it is, and I believe it is our duty to provide them with the support they need to continue their invaluable work.”