New program gives Wisconsin veterinarians free mental health resources

1 in 6 veterinarians have considered suicide, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

FURRY FRIENDSEVERY DAY --BEING AVETERINARIAN ISMORE STRESSFULTHAN MANY PEOPLEKNOW...N-B-C 26'S JENNABREE TELLS USABOUT A NEWRESOURCE FORWISCONSIN VETS, INTODAY'S REBOUNDREPORT.ACCORDING TO THEWISCONSINVETERINARIANEXAMINING BOARD --ONE IN SIXVETERINARIANS HASCONSIDERED SUICIDEDURING THEIRCAREER.SO THE BOARD JUSTLAUNCHED ITS NEWPROFESSIONALASSISTANCEPROGRAM, TO HELPVETS MANAGE THECHALLENGES THATCOME WITH CARINGFOR ANIMALS."We get to a point wherewe push ourselves, we'reperfectionists, and atpoints we reach a rolewhere we've passed ourboundaries and need torecognize what those are."DOCTOR BECKYKRULL SAYS SHEEXPERIENCEDBURNOUT A FEWYEARS AGO.AFTER GETTING THESUPPORT SHENEEDED,SHE STARTEDSPEAKING OUT ABOUTTHE NEED FORMENTAL HEALTHRESOURCES FORVETERINARIANS --"I love my profession.

Butour profession, it bringscertain characters into thisrole: we'recompassionate, lovingpeople, we have big bighearts, and then you putthat with the side ofanimals who can't speakfor themselves and ahuman on the end of theleash that has to pay thebill.

It's a very interestingmeshing of medicine andbusiness and it creates alot of stress."THE VETERINARYEXAMINING BOARDANNOUNCED IT WILLOFFER FREE,ANONYMOUSRESOURCES TO VETSAND TECHNICIANS...CHAIRMAN DOCTORROBERT FORBESSAYS THE BOARD HASBEEN WORKING ONTHIS FOR A WHILE,BUT THE COVID-19PANDEMICACCELERATED THNEED."This carside service hasdefinitely added layers ofstress.

You're not able tointeract with pet owners inan exam room, everythingis via telephone orfacetime, and practicesare busier than ever.

Thepandemic puppies, I meanthere was a huge puppyboom as everyone stayedhome to get theseawesome companions."VETERINARIANS CANGET HELP FORSUBSTANCE ABUSEAND MENTAL HEALTH--AND ALSO SMALLERSTRESSES THAT ADDUP, LIKE PERSONALAND BUSINESSFINANCES OR FINDINGCHILD CARE DURINGTHE PANDEMIC...HE SAYS THIS ISSOMETHING VETSHAVE BEEN ASKINGFOR..."I've been on the board foralmost eight years nowand this was the first timewe received a thank-younote from a veterinarian."FROM DRASTICDEBT-TO-INCOMERATIOS TOCOMPASSION FATIGUEAND WORKING CRAZYHOURS --DOCTOR KRULL SAYSTHERE ARE MANYFACTORS THAT LEADTO MENTAL HEALTHCRISES WITH VETS.AND PUTTINGANIMALS DOWN ISJUST THE TIP OF THEICEBERG..."Everybody's like 'Oh Icould never do you jobbecause I could nevereuthanize an animal.'Actually, that's one of themost loving,compassionate parts ofmy job that doesn't bringme down."THE VETERINARYPROFESSIONALASSISTANCEPROGRAM INCLUDESONLINE RESOURCESAND A 24-7 CRISISPHONE LINE --AVAILABLE TO ALLLICENSEDVETERINARIANS ANDTECHNICIANS IN THESTATE.IN GREEN BAY, JENNABREE, N-B-C 26...STILL TO COME...WHAT DOES THERECOUNT MEAN HERE