About a year and a half ago,
Dr. Rebecca Mount, board-certified specialist with
Dermatology for Animals, a Thrive partner, instituted a “Wellness Corner” during her monthly doctors meeting.
“It could be a grounding technique, why rest is important, or just tips for doctors who maybe don’t really want to talk about mental health. I think we all struggle with anxiety and perfectionism in this profession,” she remarks.
Dr. Mount’s journey with her own mental health began when she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety, something she’s been open about with her teammates and friends.
At the time, mental health wasn’t something spoken about so openly, and she grappled with feeling like she was the only one struggling.
“With anxiety, there’s always this want to control things, and simple things – an awkward interaction or an upset client – would trigger or derail me.”
As things like burnout, compassion fatigue, and suicidal ideation were increasingly discussed throughout the profession, she began sharing her story.
“It started really slowly – I had to get comfortable doing the work and seeking out therapy, and then it was about putting it out there and having a conversation on social media. And I think that’s important to share honestly.”
Normalizing the Conversation
As a resident coordinator, Dr. Mount has also worked with her residents to bring up issues during their reviews — discussing perfectionism or specific challenges they may be facing to reinforce the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing.
“It’s easier to teach dermatology than it is to be a good human or a whole doctor, and a whole doctor is good mental health.”
She also incorporates good mental health practices for her hospital team in their day-to-day, using creative ways to spark action or dialogue.
“We have our burn box and our win board. If something goes great, it goes on the win board. If it’s upsetting, we put it in the box. And then once a quarter, we go through it, tear them up, and get rid of them for good.”
Dr. Mount frequently leans on box breathing, taking time to reset and recharge, and physical exercise to manage her anxiety and stay balanced. In the past, she would try to push through her anxiety and make it to the next appointment – only to find her focus on that appointment would slip, and she’d become even more anxious.
That’s led her to create an environment of openness and conversation for her team, meeting them where they are.
“It’s about opening the door; some people want to talk face to face, while for others that brings on more anxiety. But I try to have that conversation the way it’ll land best.”
Leveling Up with Lyra
For herself and her team, Dr. Mount is a vocal advocate for
Lyra, Thrive’s mental health partner.
“Lyra has a very non-intimidating process, which is great, because I don’t think therapy is accessible to everybody. I’m really excited because I think it’s unique in our industry and it shows Thrive really supports us.”
The platform offers everything from self-help in bite-sized chunks to individual coaching and traditional therapy.
“Other employee assistance programs feel more like they’re there for crisis moments, where Lyra is more approachable and can support you with managing or maintaining your mental health.”
This continuous and consistent attention to mental health is an important piece of the wellbeing dialogue, especially for veterinary professionals who experience a stressful day-to-day as well as in-the-moment crises.
In addition to the most discussed topics of compassion fatigue, burnout, and suicidal ideation, veterinary caregivers also frequently report high rates of clinical depression, anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome. All of these may cause decreased motivation or difficulty concentrating at work, which can snowball into larger impacts.
It's critically important, then, to prioritize wellbeing, seeking out resources, coaching, or therapy to ensure you have tools and support networks in place when — and even before — issues arise.
Leaders like Dr. Mount are normalizing the conversation around mental health, breaking down barriers to accessing support, and walking the talk around getting help for the issues veterinary caregivers face.
“I’m just trying to normalize having emotion and being okay with it. Especially now, post-pandemic, mental health is nothing to be ashamed about.”
