As we well know by now, myriad variables impact a person’s mental health, and when mental health decreases, so too does physical health and overall wellbeing. Further, if someone doesn’t have a support system or know how to deal with these variables, their problems can spiral out of control and affect all facets of life.

And it doesn’t just affect individuals: Companies are also hit hard by mental health issues in the form of lower productivity, poor staff morale, and increased absenteeism—not to mention a financial cost (to the tune of tens of billions of dollars annually, according to the CDC). On the flip side, healthy employees are happier, more productive and focused, and miss less work.

If everyone pays a high price for poor wellbeing, the logical solution is to prevent it in the first place. After all, we offer wellness plans and preventive care for our patients. Why not for ourselves and our colleagues as well?

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with our Veterinary Wellbeing Series. Our panelists return to talk about inexpensive but effective ways employers can support their staff before a crisis arises. We also discuss what to do if the stress of the profession becomes toxic and how to know when it’s time to move on.