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Significant mental health challenges in the veterinary workplace create additional pressures such as time off work, permanent loss of workers, increased cost of disability programs, and reduced workplace productivity and worker satisfaction.
The Working Mind (TWM) program is a must for all veterinary staff because it addresses workplace mental health caused by inherent workplace stresses such as day-to-day workflow pressures, interpersonal relationships, and conflicts, and some unique to veterinary medicine like ethical and moral distress. There are two course types offered:
Working Mind Employee Course
The Working Mind Employee Course gives participants practical knowledge of mental health and mental illness so they can:
- Understand mental health and mental illness;
- Recognize signs and indicators in themselves and others;
- Reduce stigma and negative attitudes towards people with mental health problems;
- Support colleagues with mental health issues;
- Maintain their own mental health and improve their resilience.
Working Mind Manager Course
The Working Mind Manager Course not only examines their own mental health and coping resources but also highlights their obligations in the workplace to those who report to them. Building on The Working Mind for employees, the TWM manager course gives participants the practical knowledge they need to:
- how to talk with employees about their mental health challenges;
- how to manage mental health accommodations in the workplace, and how to facilitate the successful return to work for employees who have been off work on medical leave;
- enable all employees to be more fully productive;
- ensure the workplace climate respects and involves all employees, including those with mental health problems;
- encourage employees to seek help for mental health problems.
Both courses use trained facilitators, workshop manuals, contact-based videos that present actual employees and managers dealing with issues related to the program’s content, discussion exercises, and personal goal setting to begin to enact the coping skills within the program. Employees and Managers who take The Working Mind training have shown an increase in resiliency skills, a decrease in stigmatizing attitudes and an increase in mental health wellbeing.
Thanks to Petsecure sponsorship, The Working Mind courses are available to CVMA members and non-members, including all clinic staff, at a significantly discounted price. The Working Mind courses are available to CVMA members ($30) and non-members ($60). All employee and manager courses have a capacity limit of 15 participants for each virtual course. A minimum of 8 people is required to ensure proper delivery of each course. If a course is sold out, you can add your name to a waiting list for the next available course. Note that in-person course rates will vary depending on the venue and costs associated with this course.
The Working Mind: Manager Courses (Virtual)
Thursday/Friday, April 11 and 12, 2024 (Two half days from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and participants must be present on both days)
SOLD OUT.
The Working Mind: Employee Courses (Virtual)
From 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Eastern Time (5 hours)
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Register here.
The Working Mind: Manager Course (In-person)
From 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Mountain Time (7 hours)
Sunday, June 30, 2024 (in-person at CVMA Convention in Calgary, Alberta)
Register here.
Courses Facilitated by Dr. Leann Benedetti, DVM
Attendees will receive a CE certificate
For more information, please contact Denise Charron, Manager, Member Services at dcharron@cvma-acmv.org. 
