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Vet Med Wellness + LeadershipAuthor: Crystal Stokes, LMFT
Join Crystal Stokes, licensed psychotherapist, Harvard, Cornell, and CoActive trained organizational and high-performance leadership coach, and former vet technician, for actionable ways to improve the wellness of vet med professionals. The Vet Med Wellness and Leadership Podcast discuss leadership and wellness: how we, as individuals and teams, can apply evidence-based skills to help our authentic leadership style shine while effectively supporting others to perform at and feel their very best. Our topics range from the meta-level of overarching challenges in the realm of leadership down to the micro aspects of burnout, stress, and difficult client interactions in the veterinary profession. Our mission is to contribute to the evolving paradigm of leadership and culture where profit and performance are generated through the development of highly satisfied, motivated, and supported teams. Language: en-us Genres: Business Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#095: Mental Health First Aid in Veterinary Medicine
Episode 95
Tuesday, 18 November, 2025
Veterinary professionals are often trained to care for everyone except themselves. But what if they had the tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges within their own teams? Dr. Sonja Olson, DVM, C-MMT, and Susan Swendsen, MSSW, LCSW, VSW from Full Circle Lab join Crystal to explore how Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is reshaping the conversation around well-being in veterinary medicine.Susan shares how MHFA began in Australia in 2000 with founders Betty Kitchener and Anthony Jorm, grew to 29 countries, and aims to train one in every fifteen people worldwide. Introduced in the U.S. in 2008, the program equips everyday people with the confidence to recognize early signs of mental distress and connect others to the help they need before a crisis occurs.The group talks about how MHFA differs from therapy. It’s a peer-support model designed to help colleagues feel prepared to respond when someone is struggling. Sonja breaks down the ALGEE action plan: Assess for risk of suicide or harm, Listen non-judgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help, and Encourage self-help. She explains how this structured, step-by-step approach resonates with the way veterinary professionals think and problem-solve.The conversation highlights the power of early intervention, the importance of reducing stigma, and how empathy can protect against secondary traumatic stress. The team also shares practical ways for veterinary clinics to bring MHFA training into their workplaces through the National Council for Behavioral Health and how learning these skills together can strengthen connection, compassion, and care across the profession.What’s Inside:How Mental Health First Aid started in Australia and went globalWhy MHFA is different from therapy but just as powerful in veterinary careStep-by-step guide to the ALGEE action plan for real-life crisesSimple ways to break stigma and start honest conversations about mental healthEarly intervention tips to prevent burnout and secondary traumaHow to get certified and bring MHFA training to your clinicBuilding stronger, more connected veterinary teams through peer supportMentioned:Mental Health First Aid LinkedInFull Circle Lab Crystal Stokes on LinkedIn
