my mental health as a (new grad) veterinarian

The transition from being a student to working as a new graduate vet is a rollercoaster ride, I share bits on the negatives and positives of the job.
⏰Timestamps
0:28 raising awareness
1:25 background context on working hours as a veterinarian
2:52 negative #1
3:50 how to overcome negative #1
4:04 negative #2
6:06 dealing with reactive/ aggressive animals
7:56 sarah heaths sink model
9:15 negative #3
12:15 coping strategies when dealing with euthanasia cases
15:29 positives #1
17:28 positives #2
18:00 positives #3
Links:
Melanie Bowden Ted Talk - • What Being a Veterinar...
Discussion about Mental Health in the Veterinary Profession • #EarsToVets | A discus...
1. Perfectionism - Vet lifewww.vetlife.org.uk/self-care/...
2. Sink model positively pawsome training video - watch/?v=282...
3. Fear free resources - www.fearfreehappyhomes.com/co...
4. Euthanasia - www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-stand...
5. Journal book amzn.to/3vNOcXr](amzn.to/3vNOcXr
6. If you're struggling, to seek help - www.vetmindmatters.org/help-l...
7. Mental health resources - www.vetxinternational.com/vet...
🐄 Who am I?
I am a veterinary medicine graduate from Cambridge university, one of the Chief Mentors at Vet Mentor, and currently in small animal clinical practice. I make videos to help pre-vet students get into veterinary school, how I am surviving new graduate vet life and trying to be the best version of ourselves.
🌻 Come and say hi🌻
MY newsletter: www.getrevue.co/profile/mayyean
Insta: @thatsmesunny
Blog: thatsmesunny.com/
(more vet school resources)
Twitter: @mayyean
🎶 Music credits 🎶
fireside, dayoff - Cajun Koi
Reggie San Miguel - Daydream - thmatc.co/?l=1B05F68D
Breathing Piano - Looking Back - thmatc.co/?l=E38BD6A2
📸 My simple gear 📸
Camera: Sony ZV-1 amzn.to/3wm9bB5
Audio: BOYA BY-MM1 amzn.to/39UgyDr & iphone- headphone jack adapter (Apple store)
Tripod stand: amzn.to/38AGraZ
Video editing software: FCP
PS: Some of the links mentioned are affiliates (at no extra cost to you), thank you for supporting me 🙂

[@MayYean]

Thank you friends for being so kind in the comments & sharing suggestions to help as well🙏 I was definitely nervous about posting it so thank you for making it a safe space to chat openly about these things 💛🐾

[@juanllasera16]

As a future vet I'm so grateful for your Channel, I saw that Ted Talk too and had a hard time choosing my career because of that. But my motivation and passion is more powerful, we as vets deserve good working conditions. Thank you for bringing up this topic! ❤️

[@marleyismydog2175]

As a future vet, thank you for this video. I remember watching that Ted talk and I was heartbroken but I don’t think it changed my mind about wanting to help animals.

[@vetstudentjasm]

Soo good. Thank you so much for sharing your journey and raising mental health awareness in the veterinary industry❤️

[@sandratsang9546]

Aww yeah, thank you for being so honest :) I am doing my GCSE exams next year and I'm planning to also become a vet. It's so refreshing to not only see the positives of the job because so many people tell me that becoming a vet will just be as difficult as doing medicine.

[@livingvet7982]

Hello mam I am veterinary surgeon I am from India In my country veterinarian are struggling than other contrast professions but mental health of a vet is very strong than other fields. We can survive in any situation bcz we have to a lot of struggle. Now we are too strong than we can do everything rather than taking stress. I know that whenever stressful condition come that it will make our better. In adverse condition we can do everything that we really don't about ourselves. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate 🙏

[@avasabadishin5765]

Thank you for sharing! I’ve wanted to be a vet since I was 6 years old, I’m now a teenager in high school and college at the same time. My motivation has been low but my passion so far has been so much stronger. Thank you again, this was very helpful.

[@jolowry1047]

Thank you for posting this. I am a future vet, and it has been really difficult for me to decide to continue choosing this path based on some of what I've read and seen other people go through. I've never been as passionate as I have been taking care of my animals and looking after their health. I feel like your video has helped solidify my decision to become a veterinarian.

[@racheltofield402]

I've been a smallies new grad for four weeks and this sums up life at the moment. The jump from student to new grad is huge and it really does affect our mental health. Thanks for the video 🥰

[@Gleek2336]

I am a 2nd yr vet student and I work as a vet tech and I can say the current state of the profession has impacted me greatly and working through covid was very challenging but I always try to remember that I'm working towards a goal of having a job that can do good in the world and that's what keeps me going. Thanks for this video it's important to talk about these things

[@mariel01111]

Euthanasia is the hardest part of the job. It helps if you have a conversation with the pet before, during and after giving the euthanasia agent, and even asking permission that they let you do what you need to do... it also helps, for me, to say a prayer as the pet transitions...

[@cherylgioh8356]

Thank you so much for sharing your ups & downs - mental health journey, especially sharing how to overcome those stressful times...Tq3 :)

[@oliviahogben6404]

bless you, youre such a beautiful person. thank you for posting this video xxx

[@TheBalmains]

Thank you May

[@shuaijin4623]

Thank you, May for your authentic share.

[@LoneWolf.1371]

Her talk was amazing! As well so are you, thank you for your insightful content I appreciate you.

[@sameenhayat2984]

i love your videos so much you’re actually such an angel i always feel like im talking to an elder sister giving me advice as someone who wants to go into veterinary science

[@Dr_BriPinto]

Thank you for this honesty about your emotions and the emotions involved in this field..I’m term 2 vet student and definitely being too hard on myself is something I’m really trying to work on 😅 thank you for sharing your story ❤️

[@yuliyak4117]

Thank you for such informative videos! Your kitty is very lucky to have you as a guardian! Watching how he is getting better after fighting such a devastating desease, he seems to be doing much better! I am curious, what's UK's view on dry foods? Watching you giving Keith treats makes me smile, but also makes me wonder - do vets feel strong dry versus wet food in your country as well? Here in US, vets do not like to talk nutrition, unless it is prescription food.

[@GG-qw1gd]

Future vet here, thank you so much for this video it was realistic and informative

[@Marilia2244]

ive been watxhobg ur videos and i feel that ur so realistic thats what i love you aboutt uu stayy safee qnd be happyy always

[@tomfitzsimmons7263]

Thank you for giving some personal advice on how to cope with all of these issues, I'm sure it's not easy to talk about. The TED talk was very informative but didn't really touch on how to deal with it so this was a very helpful video

[@rodrigocortez4382]

You will keep going and striving I’ve watched your videos before going to vet tech school and I’m now 7 months in and 11 months to graduate, but yes unfortunately like most medical industries there is alot of things people have to go through and it’s pretty draining I could see why our profession has a high suicide rate

[@tovielmcvay6455]

Yea I agree 👍🏽

[@MarinkaPelivan-bh6xp]

Thank you for talking about the mental health of vets. I wish you brushed more on the topic of euthanasia when owners bring in pets that are (easily) treatable but they want euthanasia as its easier for them or they dont wont to invest any more money in their pet but rather buy a new dog or other situations like that that can be morally borderline, do you always say yes to what the owner wants regardless of your moral compass?

[@lennon7185]

Our practice used an Online CPD named Compassion Understood, it helped everyone in the practice have a better understanding of how euthanasia can be better dealt with from both a client’s and professionals perspective. It was so insightful and I highly recommend it for all practices.

[@MayYean]

thanks so much for the suggestion lennon!!

[@qiyidian]

Thank you so much for sharing, May! I’m a current college student considering going pre-vet, and I’m wondering if being a veterinarian allows you to have some time of to travel every now and then? Also, do you know if there’s a big difference between being a vet in a large city like London and in a smaller town? Thank youuu 🥰

[@rookdoeswhatheywant]

thanks so much, i have been working so hard to be a vet and am really wondering if my years of work ( that it will take ) is worth it if i am just going to be depressed and stressed. is it overall worth it for you? i have been watching all your videos and they are really helpful, but i havent gotten a direct answer, is it really worth the work and dreaming and negatives to be a vet?

[@Carol-fz7nk]

Im studying to be a vet and im very grateful for your videos, even though im brazilian and i feel like things are very different around here, i love to see your point of view on this things, thanks for sharing ❤️

[@dogculturereveiw]

Thanks for putting this out here. Dog culture is such a driver for stress. The veterinarians are paying the price. Sad

[@molly0098.]

Im a year 3 vet nurse and I'm so close to giving up. No work life balance, treated like a dogs body, clinical waste bins thrown at me, no lunch breaks and never finish on time..

[@moonenhypink]

I started my vet tech program on August 15 and today the 18 I drop it because I was scared of this exact same thing. Also never had any experience like watching the profession up close. So now I’m thinking what else can I do.

[@turusheva2246]

Hi everyone :) I`m vet from russia and this video is so important to me thank u a lot!

[@pinkgiraffe1718]

Hi, I was wondering if you were able to experience any euthanasias on EMS before graduating due to COVID? And if you did, did you find it was a big transition to stand in for euthanasias versus performing them yourself?? Thanks for your help!

[@MayYean]

Yes, so I didn’t manage to experience many (bc as a student often times it depends on the situation whether the client is happy for you to stand in/ assist/ patient condition appropriate) or not, so what really helped prepare me was one of the intern vets at uni gave a whole session on preparing to do euths yourself, and a senior vet at my clinic who talked me through how to prep/ what to say specifically/ when to give owners some space etc, and I intend to make a video on this so stay tuned 🙏

[@kdog9104]

I am a vet assistant/tech, i got into the field a year ago. It’s been incredibly hard to deal with certain things. I want to stay in the field but theres so many issues

[@kdog9104]

Im pretty close to some veterinarians, incredible props to them that shit is hard and taxing in all ways. We all feel it

[@kdog9104]

Ive had multiple times now being bit, i didn’t use to be scared at all of dogs even being bit as a kid by a pitbull, but it’s gotten so bad now It’s hard to work through the fear for me! Also issues with safety and different managing and certain doctors not following safety lines with aggressive animals

[@mayrasancruz]

What courses do you have to take ?

[@cherfaouiabdelmoumene8392]

Great vedeo, I'm a vet also, it's a great field, but unfortunately it's so hard, especially in the wrong place with wrong income. If I get an opportunity I will change my career

[@krishnamehta4504]

Hello! I am in university of saskatchewan. I am into pre-vet course. I really neeed ur help regarding how can i volunteer at animal organization. So that i can have more experience. Thanks a lot.

[@denisasandru9039]

I am în the first year of vet school

[@anoniukas]

All people, who works in a medical field with people or animals and in such kind of professions as police and firefighters, has to deal with the same problems. But one thing is new to me: a veterinarian, who is affraid of animals, when they are mad/agressive. I wanted to be a veterinarian, but one thing made me to rethink about it. It's euthanasia. Especially euthanasia without even trying palliative care. And I, most problably didn't meet a dog, who is agressive and can't be dealt with in some way. Once, I even met an agressive dog (that dog really was the one, who you don't want to meet an eye to eye, because he is willing to catch you by your throat if you get in his way. And he's a german shephard), who, actually, got affraid of me, since I came to him and said ,,Hi buddy! Come for cudles and pets!" as I met him walking in the streets alone, without owners and harassing person, who was affraid of him.

[@abelabera807]

Sorry can you help me Please i just wanted ask about something i am a veterinary science student can a veterinary science change into veterinary medcine

[@sabias3932]

Do vets tell pet owners when their pet was aggressive under their care?? My dogs can be reactive at home and on walks but at the groomer and vet they always seem fine and I’ve never had complaints but sometimes I wonder if the professionals just don’t see the point in mentioning it…

[@michellezamora1435]

Ur cat 😢🥹