By: Dr. Laura Smallwood, DVM DACVIM (SAIM),
GVMA Wellness Committee Chair
Over the past 14 months the GVMA Wellness Committee has been working to make meaningful health and wellbeing resources available to DVM members and the employees of GVMA Hospitals. Here is an update on some of those programs:
The GVMA Compass (Previously the MAP) 
The McLaughlin Young MyGroup EAP is now available to all our DVM members and all employees of member hospitals. This program offers a wide range of services including mental health counseling, financial counseling, legal advice and online resources to support optimal wellbeing—all provided at no cost to members. Online services include monthly on-demand webinars that cover a wide range of topics including stress resilience, interpersonal relationship skills, time management, and communication.
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
QPR is an online suicide prevention training that is now available free of charge to all GVMA members and employees of member hospitals. QPR training teaches participants the common causes of suicidal behavior, the warning signs that someone is considering suicide, how to talk to someone whom you believe may be at risk for suicide, and how to get help for someone in crisis. The training takes less than an hour to complete and continued access to online resources are included in the training.
Georgia Profession Health Program (PHP)
This Georgia PHP is a non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of medical professionals in Georgia. This program provides confidential referral, treatment oversight and monitoring of potentially impairing conditions, mental illness, and substance abuse disorders while providing a safe haven for professionals that protects their professional licensure so that, upon successful completion and recovery, they can return to work. This program is currently available to physicians and several other human health professionals licensed through the Composite Medical Board but not veterinarians. However, thanks to GVMA advocacy at the state capitol, a bill has been proposed and recently was approved by the Senate Agricultural Committee that would make PHP available to veterinarians. Update–This bill passed by both the Georgia State Senate and House this legislative session!
From the 2019 Spring Edition of “The GA Vet.” You can read the magazine online by CLICKING HERE.
