How would you react if a leader in your professional network encouraged you to call the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
If you are a leader – when should you suggest someone contact the EAP?
For one AVA member, a chance phone call with an industry leader who felt confident and comfortable to suggest this, saved their life.
Don’t underestimate the power of one conversation
12 months after starting a practice from the ground up, they were stressed and recognised their past experiences of mental illness were likely contributing to their current struggle. After reaching out to their GP, they were referred to a psychologist. However, there wasn’t a deep connection and disengaging after 2 sessions meant their mental health continued to decline.
A chance phone call changed things.
“After emailing a Special Interest Group (SIG) president regarding a medicine question, they rang out of the blue and answered my question.
“They then asked, “how are you?”. For some reason, in that moment, I just released everything. This leader was incredible. They listened, and then in an incredibly supportive manner, asked if it was ok if they helped.”
The president firmly, but kindly, instructed them to make a booking with the AVA Counselling service, a free and completely confidential service – available to members, their staff and their families.
“I felt I got more out of a 45-minute session with the AVA Counselling Service than I did two hours with the local psychologist. They were absolutely fantastic.”
Three lessons for navigating support
This is not to diminish the service of local psychologists but rather to highlight Lesson 1: Your first mental health care provider is unlikely to be your last. You may have to try a couple of times before you find one you click with – that’s ok. Don’t give up after the first go.
After 3 free AVA sessions, clients will be encouraged to find a new psychologist if ongoing care is needed. This task can seem insurmountable while under the influence of mental illness. This brings us to Lesson 2: Don’t wait until you suffer a mental health crisis to find and put in place healthcare providers. Build a positive relationship with your GP who can recommended a good psychologist. The AVA service can help to bridge the gap between referral and your first appointment.
As vets, we know that prevention is better than cure. So, can you use the counselling line when you are feeling ok? Of course you can.
In fact, that’s the point.
There are many other ways the AVA’s Employee Assistance Service can help you before a crisis point is reached. Beyond counselling, they can provide relationship advice, legal and financial advice, as well as career coaching, manager support, and even nutrition advice.
Alongside the phone line, AVA members have access to the Converge website and app, which provides toolkits of tip sheets, webinars, podcasts and Flourish magazine.
In our member’s opinion “every veterinarian should see a mental health care professional at least once a year.”
“I think this serves two purposes; 1) you can establish a relationship with a provider before you suffer a mental health crisis, and 2) as a team you might just pick up any issues before they become a problem.”
So, as a leader, how do you normalise support before it becomes urgent?
As Flourish magazine writes, we spend so much time at work, it can become like a second family. Whilst we all have a moral obligation to support each other’s mental health, leaders (and employees) have a legal obligation to provide a psychosocially and psychologically safe place to work. Our Cultivating Safe Teams AWARE training highlights this shared responsibility.
In fact, 69% of UK workers said their manager had a significant impact on their mental health – more than doctors and therapists. This highlights the power of leaders to be on the frontline of promoting mental health.
However, 50% of Australian workers wouldn’t disclose their mental health concerns to their boss for fear of discrimination or unequal opportunities. Being warm and open as a leader will overcome some of these barriers but sometimes you need to go further and, like our SIG President, actively check in – not just check up – when you suspect your colleague may be suffering.
Promote the AVA’s (or your own) EAP through posters, staff onboarding practices and at staff meetings. Having an open-door policy around reaching out for support and role-modelling work-life balance and self-care will make it much easier to suggest reaching out to the EAP as a first step for someone who might need help.
If you are unsure how to tell if someone is struggling, our MHFA course could help you identify the signs of mental ill health and equip you to be confident in these conversations. You can also access the EAP yourself for manager support.
Lastly, Lesson 3: Connect with others. This member’s successful recovery is partly attributable to their professional connections. Their SIG provided connection at conferences and events, regular check-ins, and maintained professional identity through work opportunities as they recovered.
This is what they had to say – “I would also encourage all veterinarians to become a part of your association(s). I have made so many friends and contacts at conferences and through committees that I can still touch base with now, whether it be veterinary or personal related. They can become like extended family if you reach out and become involved.”
Building a psychologically safe profession
As veterinarians, that same compassion we show to the animals we care for needs be extended to ourselves and our colleagues. The story shared here reminds us that sometimes the simple act of asking “How are you, really?” can change a life. Leaders who create space for these conversations and know where to guide their team when help is needed play a vital role in building a healthier, more resilient profession.
Explore the many supports available through the AVA and THRIVE, not just when things feel overwhelming, but as part of your ongoing wellbeing routine. A short conversation today could prevent a crisis tomorrow.
Here’s your challenge this month:
- Complete the THRIVE Veterinary Community Wellbeing Survey to help us understand and strengthen wellbeing across the profession.
- Tell at least one person in your team about the EAP service – you never know who might need that reminder.
Together, we can make our veterinary profession, THRIVE.