December 2, 2019 – Edmonton, AB
At the November ABVTA Board meeting, the Board struck a new Task Force which will put emphasis on increasing member wellness initiatives.
A 2013 study by Dr. Jean Wallace of Alberta veterinarians and technologists indicated that 18% of technologists and 21% of veterinarians had thoughts of suicide over the past year. This is an alarming number and action must take place.
One of the first initiatives that was pursued was for members of the ABVTA Leadership Group to obtain Mental Health First Aid training from the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is help that is provided to someone who may be experiencing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Similar to standard physical first aid treatment, MHFA is provided until additional support is provided professionally or the crisis has been resolved.
Last week, 4 members of the ABVTA Board of Directors received their Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification. This brings the total number of ABVTA Directors certified in MHFA to 7.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please know that you aren’t alone. When you are ready to talk, we are here to listen.
If you or someone you know is suffering a crisis, call 211 from anywhere in Alberta. This is a safe, 100% confidential, one-on-one conversation with a Support Team member from the Canadian Mental Health Association.
For more information on Mental Health First Aid training, click here.
To read the full article from Dr. Jean Wallace, “Burnout, coping and suicidal ideation: An
application and extension of the job demand control-support mode”, click here.