An evaluation of a veterinary-specific mental health service.
Mental health
occupational health
service evaluation
veterinary surgeon
wellbeing
Journal
Occupational medicine (Oxford, England)
ISSN: 1471-8405
Titre abrégé: Occup Med (Lond)
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9205857
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
27 May 2020
27 May 2020
Historique:
pubmed:
13
2
2020
medline:
28
1
2021
entrez:
13
2
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Veterinary professionals are at increased risk of suicide and mental health difficulties compared to the general population. Vetlife Health Support (VHS) is a mental health case management service for veterinarians with mental health difficulties. To evaluate the VHS case management service from the service user's perspective. Service users (n = 98) completed questionnaires assessing their experience with VHS and current mental health status using the Kessler-6 Scale. A sub-sample was interviewed and the data qualitatively analysed (n = 14). The results show that 97% (n = 95) reported a positive experience with VHS and 98% (n = 96) reported VHS staff respected and listened to them. Participants reported significant improvements in relationships with others after VHS (P < 0.001) and were significantly more likely to be in receipt of formal mental health care after VHS than before (P < 0.01). The main emergent themes from the qualitative interviews were (i) positive communication between clinician and service users, (ii) veterinary-specific mental health services were regarded as important to understanding service users' circumstances, (iii) knowing someone is supporting them positively impacted wellbeing and (iv) confusion with discharge status. Most participants reported positive experiences with VHS. Quantitatively, data showed that participants reported significant improvements in relationships and access to formal mental health care after contact with VHS. Interviews with service users revealed that they felt speaking to a mental health professional with veterinary-specific knowledge was beneficial for their wellbeing. Further evaluation assessing whether VHS leads to a measurable impact on psychological wellbeing is recommended.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Veterinary professionals are at increased risk of suicide and mental health difficulties compared to the general population. Vetlife Health Support (VHS) is a mental health case management service for veterinarians with mental health difficulties.
AIMS
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the VHS case management service from the service user's perspective.
METHODS
METHODS
Service users (n = 98) completed questionnaires assessing their experience with VHS and current mental health status using the Kessler-6 Scale. A sub-sample was interviewed and the data qualitatively analysed (n = 14).
RESULTS
RESULTS
The results show that 97% (n = 95) reported a positive experience with VHS and 98% (n = 96) reported VHS staff respected and listened to them. Participants reported significant improvements in relationships with others after VHS (P < 0.001) and were significantly more likely to be in receipt of formal mental health care after VHS than before (P < 0.01). The main emergent themes from the qualitative interviews were (i) positive communication between clinician and service users, (ii) veterinary-specific mental health services were regarded as important to understanding service users' circumstances, (iii) knowing someone is supporting them positively impacted wellbeing and (iv) confusion with discharge status.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Most participants reported positive experiences with VHS. Quantitatively, data showed that participants reported significant improvements in relationships and access to formal mental health care after contact with VHS. Interviews with service users revealed that they felt speaking to a mental health professional with veterinary-specific knowledge was beneficial for their wellbeing. Further evaluation assessing whether VHS leads to a measurable impact on psychological wellbeing is recommended.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32047935
pii: 5734276
doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqaa017
doi:
Types de publication
Evaluation Study
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
169-175Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.