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GVMA BLOG

14 Jun

Posted at 13:45h in Uncategorized, Wellness
1 Like

The GVMA is pleased to announce that the Professionals Health Program (PHP) is one step closer to implementation.  Passed by the General Assembly with unanimous support and signed into law on 1/1/21, PHP will allow for veterinarians seeking treatment for addiction/impairment to enter into a medical program of treatment.  As long as the individual is complying with the treatment requirements, their current licensure will be protected.  The Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine (SBVM) is supportive of this measure and recently met to outline a decision tree designed to most effectively...

14 Jun

Posted at 13:36h in Uncategorized, Wellness
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Getting help for any mental health issue can feel hard.  Sometimes we question if what we are going through, or what we are observing in a colleague, coworker, or family member is serious enough to warrant reaching out.   The fact is that you don’t need to be in a crisis to contact someone through a crisis hotline.  You can also reach out if you are sad, anxious, or just don’t know where to turn.  Many of the website resources listed below offer non-crisis support and online options for communication (chat...

14 Jun

Posted at 12:44h in Wellness
0 Likes

Health Insurance Insurance coverage for therapy will depend on your particular plan’s behavioral health benefits.  Some plans require a co-pay per session, others cover the total cost of the session, and some ask you to pay out-of-pocket until a deductible is reached.  You should call the member services or behavioral health line listed on the back of your insurance card to find out more information about your benefits.  Ask if pre-authorization is required.  It is also helpful to ask what your out-of-network benefits are in case you would like to see...

14 Jun

Posted at 12:39h in Uncategorized, Wellness
2 Likes

There are so many options when it comes to finding a therapist.  You can see a professional in-person of online for virtual sessions, and there are even different ways to pay for services.  If you have insurance, call the members services or behavioral health line listed on the back of your insurance card to find out more about your benefits. Online Counseling Platforms Online counseling that is confidential and convenient is available at  betterhelp.com  .   You will fill out a brief assessment in order to be matched with a licensed counselor who...

14 Jun

Posted at 12:30h in GVMA News, Wellness
2 Likes

If you feel that you are struggling and that the past 15 months have been particularly difficult, you are not alone.  A 2020 mental health survey sent to GVMA members revealed the following: 51% of respondents reported a decrease in their sense of wellness in 2020.50% of respondents reported struggling with one or more of the following:  depression, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty with work-life balance, trouble sleeping. In open ended responses, many respondents self-reported that: They feel busier than ever at work to the point of extreme overworkThey feel ill-equipped to balance their personal...

14 Jun

Posted at 12:29h in Uncategorized, Wellness
1 Like

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable. Self-assessment tools can be a great way to increase mental health self-awareness as a first step toward optimizing mental health and well-being.  AVMA offers an excellent online Quality of Life (QOL) Self-Assessment tool. This validated self-assessment tool was developed for human health care providers and measures the negative and positive effects of helping others.  The tool is designed to provide introspection about one’s self and one’s environment as a starting point for change.  AVMA also provides a variety of self-help resources that can...

24 May

Posted at 14:08h in Wellness
2 Likes

Laura Smallwood, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), RYT-200Chair, GVMA Wellness Committee Earlier this year I started seeing a therapist. It wasn’t my first time. While I have been fortunate not to struggle with particularly serious mental health challenges, there have been many times in my life that my mental and emotional wellbeing has been less than optimal and my coping strategies less than helpful. At one point in my life—newly married, newly transplanted to the south, unhappy in my job, and deflecting constant criticism from my mother for my choice of husband, residence, and...

13 May

Posted at 13:46h in Wellness
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By Dr. Laura Smallwood, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) Chair, GVMA Resilience & Well-Being Committee “We can complain because the rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because the thorns have roses.” — Alphonse Karr Perception Perception—how we see things, or don’t see them—is everything. As this quote suggests, two people can be confronted with the same set of circumstances, yet see the situation in quite different ways—mostly thorns, or mostly roses. Perceptions are fashioned at the interface of neuroanatomy and life, and what we pay attention to matters. When we pay attention to positive information and...

06 May

Posted at 13:47h in GVMA News, Wellness
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LENDING A HAND, WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. May Supervisor Newsletter May Employee Newsletter Monthly Online Seminar:  May 18th  Addressing Anxiety in an Uncertain World Learn how to recognize and manage anxiety to actively combat the physical and mental effects in a practical way.  Click here for an editable version of the flyer.   Monthly seminars are updated the third Tuesday of each month. With this format, every employee has one-click access - anywhere, anytime. Registration is not required. Click here & access your Work-Life Services.  (Login is organization specific. Please check with your HR team if you...

08 Apr

Posted at 12:32h in Advocacy, GVMA News, Legislation
0 Likes

What is the GVMA? The GVMA is a membership organization—governed by a Board of Directors with representatives from 12 districts throughout the state. We exist to serve you, our members! The GVMAs major purposes are to:• further veterinary medicine in the state of Georgia;• advocate for veterinarians on legal and regulatory issues that affect the way veterinary medicine is practiced and veterinary facilities are regulated (either by the Georgia state legislature or the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine);• and to provide a trusted source for continuing education for veterinarians. What is the...

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