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CVMA Presents on Wellness and Resilience to Future GNB
August 28, 2024
Dr. Kathy Keil, CVMA Director, Wellness, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Dr. Leann Benedetti, CVMA Wellness Committee Co-Chair, were honoured to present a virtual session on Resilience in Veterinary Medicine and CVMA Wellness Resources at Future GNB’s (Government of New Brunswick) request. Future GNB is a government-wide initiative that establishes formal pathways for students to access experiential and work-integrated learning opportunities within the public service. This initiative aims to foster meaningful connections between various GNB departments and students, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of public service engagement and professional development.
The session, delivered on July 16, 2024, was open to veterinary students enrolled in the Future GNB summer program, GNB veterinarians, and the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association (NBVMA) members. The successful session hosted 38 attendees and kicked off with an introduction from Mr. Neil Jacobson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Agriculture (Division), Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, and final words from Dr. Nicole Jewett, NBVMA Registrar.
Please see some key points from the presentation below.
Individual Window of Tolerance
Understanding our own individual window of tolerance is important. This is the name for the optimal zone of nervous system activity in which an individual can manage and respond to stressors. We can build resilience and actively support ourselves with ongoing conscious awareness of when we are in and out of our window of tolerance. The window can be expanded with many tools and skills including self-compassion and mindfulness activities which are predictors of resilience in a veterinary medicine study.
Free, bite-sized guided self-compassion and mindfulness podcasts, developed by Dr. Kathy Keil, are available here or via this QR code:
Individual, Team, and Workplace Resilience
Individual, team, and workplace resilience are all important and interconnected. Psychological safety contributes to resilience across this full ecosystem. Veterinary specific psychological safety guidelines are now available from Veterinary Visionaries.
You Are Not Alone. The CVMA Offers Help and Resources.
Togetherall
Togetherall, a peer-to-peer digital platform provided by the CVMA and sponsored by Western Financial Group, is free for all Canadian veterinarians and student veterinarians with oversight 24/7/365 by a licensed counsellor. Find more information about or join Togetherall here or via this QR code:
Employee Assistance Plans
Talk with a professional healthcare provider. The CVMA website lists the phone numbers of counsellors/psychologists available through many provincial veterinary medical association’s Employee Assistance Plans. Find the list here or via this QR code:
The Working Mind
The Working Mind Employee and Manager Courses offered by the CVMA, owned by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and sponsored by Petsecure, improve individual, team, and workplace resilience. Click here to register or use QR code below to register for an upcoming course:
Please email wellnessDEI@cvma-acmv.org with questions, idea, and comments.
Testimonials from Future GNB Participants
“My summer as a veterinary student in public service has been nothing short of transformative. The mentorship, camaraderie, and practical skills I gained have fortified my aspirations to become a large animal veterinarian. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from such dedicated professionals. I am now more motivated than ever to pursue a fulfilling career in veterinary medicine rooted in service to animals and the community.” – Future GNB Participant
“One of the most delightful aspects of this program was the opportunity to connect with fellow students within the Future GNB program. Sharing stories, exchanging insights, and collaborating on various projects with like-minded peers added a unique camaraderie to the entire experience.” – Brianna Forbes, Future GNB Veterinary Student