Veterinary Mental Health Taylor Miller

The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 22% of individuals will be bereaved by suicide in their lifetime. In our veterinary community, with its elevated rate of suicide compared to the general population, I expect that number is much higher. In today's episode I walk you through the aspects of grieving a loss by suicide that make it uniquely difficult. 
 After a suicide: A guide for Veterinary Workplaces
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The imposter phenomenon (sometimes called the imposter syndrome) describes how an objectively successful individual can fail to internalize their accomplishments. This leaves them feeling as though their position or achievements are the result of luck or oversight and they dread being discovered as an imposter. This episode describes the possible origins of the phenomenon and how one might begin to address it. 

We would like to think we view the world objectively, but under stress we are actually more likely to interpret the neutral expressions of others as negative. This episode discusses how this occurs, its implications for your mental health as well as for clinical practice, and what we can do about it. 

Managing one's mental health can be challenging in the best of times, and whatever your individual views, I think we can agree that we are a ways off from ideal. Conversation is key to our ability to feel connected to and supported by those who we consider friends and family. Connection and support are key to mental health. But what happens when navigating conversations becomes its own source of stress. This is an impromptu podcast that delves into these thoughts, and examines what we can do to reduce conversational conflict. 

Protecting yourself from stress and burnout is critical for quality of life. This podcast explores the different categories of stress we experience on a day-to-day basis, how stress can contribute to burnout, and how to approach stress management. 

Even if you have reached the conclusion that counseling may be beneficial in your life, the prospect of finding a counselor may be daunting. This podcast breaks down the steps of finding the best mental health professional for you as well as what to expect if you have never been in counseling before.