Companion AnimalVol. 24, No. 5 EditorialFree AccessWe need to talk about healthDebra BourneDebra BourneEditor, Companion AnimalSearch for more papers by this authorDebra BournePublished Online:30 Apr 2019https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2019.24.5.233AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail The Mind Matters Initiative launched in 2015 by the RCVS aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the whole veterinary team. Talking about that initiative, Neil Smith wrote that ‘Mental health and wellbeing is just as important as physical health, yet it tends to be addressed less and accepted less; stigma is a major issue (Smith, 2017). Sadly, last month's Endpiece from Rosie Allister of Vetlife (2019) shows that we still have some way to go in addressing physical health as well.Too often, veterinary professionals feel unable to take time off with ill health — whether physical or mental. Sometimes this is related to financial pressures, other times to worrying about letting down colleagues or patients, or to a culture in which not working through illness somehow indicates that you are less dedicated to your job, and less worthy as a colleague. None of us is immune to developing an illness that might affect our ability to do our job, whether in the short or longer term. Unfortunately, short of bout of norovirus tethering you to the bathroom, it can be hard to stand against internal and/or external pressures to go to work however sick you are, or to return to work too soon, to the detriment of your health.A meme that Vetlife is pushing at present is that ‘self-care is not selfish.’ Entering the veterinary professions often stems at least partly from altruistic impulses — we care about and want to help others, as exemplified by the number of veterinary surgeons and nurses volunteering with organisations such as Street Vet or Street Paws, or spending their vacation time volunteering at overseas neutering clinics. It is important to remember, as exemplified in the flight safety video about putting on your own oxygen mask first before helping others, that if you don't look after yourself then not only are you going to suffer, but your ability to help others — whether your patients and clients or family and friends — will be reduced.Recently I attended one of the pilot Resilience Workshops being offered as part of the Mind Matters Initiative. It was an interesting session, including sections on external factors such as support networks (friends, family, colleagues within and without the workplace) as well as internal aspects such as reframing problems into challenges, and being able to communicate how you feel and any need for support (and there are times when we all need support). The benefits of a ‘Growth Mindset’ were explained — in which you recognise talents and abilities as things to be developed and grown; see setbacks as learning opportunities not simply as failures; and focus on learning rather than appearing talented.The workshop emphasised that you can develop and improve your internal resources to enable you to feel more in control, helping you to cope. However, it is important that any focus on developing resilience aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the individual as a person, making them stronger, happier and healthier (which will make them better able to cope with work pressures) and not simply to make them stronger so that more and more work pressures can be dumped on them to benefit the organisation in which they work!Another initiative to improve welbeing is the WellVet Weekend, organised by Vetsnet and VetsLed, which aim to signpost and curate wellbeing resources, and to create and champion positive veterinary culture. Read all about it (p286) — and look after yourself. References Allister R. Caring for ourselves. UK-Vet Companion Animal. 2019.24(4):226. doi: https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2019.24.4.226 Link, Google ScholarSmith N. The Mind Matters Initiative. UK-Vet Companion Animal. 2017;22(2):110. doi: https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2017.22.2.110 Link, Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 May 2019Volume 24Issue 5ISSN (print): 2053-0889ISSN (online): 2053-0897 Metrics History Published online 30 April 2019 Published in print 2 May 2019 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download