Volunteering Fosters Mental Health And Wellbeing | Episode 11 | Reviving Vet Med

12/16/21 • 19 min

Research consistently demonstrates the benefits of volunteering, especially among individuals who believe others will benefit from their contributions and that they are being appreciated for their efforts.

During this episode, and in honour of International Volunteer Day, I review the positive impact of volunteering on mental health and wellbeing, and share strategies for optimizing volunteer opportunities in and outside of the veterinary profession. The importance of establishing boundaries in the context of volunteering time and energy is also discussed.

Video Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbxtdpmUxGs&list=PLSg17Xf-rT1-e4zMj5UhYf_ecmYdqO4k7&index=8

Resources

Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study (2020): https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about-us/veterinary-and-consumer-affairs/article/veterinary-wellbeing-study-2020

Motives for volunteering are associated with mortality risk in older adults (2012): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-17888-001

Does Volunteering Make Us Happier, or Are Happier People More Likely to Volunteer? Addressing the Problem of Reverse Causality When Estimating the Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-020-00242-8

Online Programs
To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/
Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter
Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Video Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbxtdpmUxGs&list=PLSg17Xf-rT1-e4zMj5UhYf_ecmYdqO4k7&index=8

Resources

Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study (2020): https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about-us/veterinary-and-consumer-affairs/article/veterinary-wellbeing-study-2020

Motives for volunteering are associated with mortality risk in older adults (2012): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-17888-001

Previous Episode

BONUS Gratitude Meditation | Episode 10 | Reviving Vet Med

Every 10th Reviving Vet Med podcast will feature a BONUS episode! Our first BONUS episode is a 25-minute gratitude meditation, just in time for the holiday season.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions and can lift your energy or mood after experiencing anger, frustration, grief, or sadness. You are invited to practice this meditation anytime you wish to relax or invite a sense of gratitude into your day. (But please do not listen to this episode while driving!).
Online Programs
To learn more about our 4- and 8-week online programs approved for CE credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE, please visit:
https://revivingvetmed.com/programs/
Newsletter
For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to our e-newsletter:
https://revivingvetmed.kartra.com/page/newsletter
Questions or Suggestions
Email [email protected]

Next Episode

Recovering From Habitual Burnout | Episode 12 | Reviving Vet Med

Despite a slight improvement in caseload and staffing within most veterinary practices, veterinary team members are still experiencing persistent or habitual burnout. This phenomenon is becoming more prevalent and requires awareness and intentional steps to allow individuals to recover.

During this episode, we review the research regarding the different stages of burnout including the symptoms. Most importantly, practical strategies for prevention, management, and recovery from burnout are shared.

Video Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXdyRbWg8tc&list=PLSg17Xf-rT1-e4zMj5UhYf_ecmYdqO4k7&index=7

Resources

Burnout in Healthcare Workers - Prevalence, Impact, and Preventative Strategies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7604257/

Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress among full-time veterinarians in the United States (2016-2018): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33978434/

CVMA Wellness Survey (2012): https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/news-events/news/resources/vet-health-wellness-cvma-national-survey%20results

Reviving Vet Med - Volunteering Fosters Mental Health And Wellbeing | Episode 11 | Reviving Vet Med

Transcript

Hey everyone! Welcome to another episode of Reviving Vet Med.
Today's episode is called Volunteering fosters mental health and wellbeing, and in today's episode we are going to be covering different topics related to volunteering and the benefits on our health. Specifically, we are going to review some of the research studies looking at the different benefits of volunteering we are going to touch on exactly how much and what sort of volunteering can be beneficial and who are the people who