Managers have a key role to play in staff mental health
Dr Max Pemberton.
Films such as The Shining and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest have contributed to the idea that mental illness is 'scary', said practising psychologist Dr Max Pemberton, as he addressed delegates at this year's SPVS/VMG Congress.
Throughout his career, his decision to become a psychologist has prompted surprise among many people who viewed it as scary or depressing. Yet he believes mental health is a positive and exciting discipline.
Unlike many other diseases, around 80 per cent of people on average make a full recovery from a mental illness. And for those that don't, with the right services and support, their symptoms and the impact these have on their lives are often greatly reduced. Compare this to heart failure, which has a survival rate of around 20 per cent, or diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, for which there is no cure.
Despite this, there is a stigma attached to mental health that does not exist in other forms of medicine, even where the prognosis for patients is poor. It's something Dr Pemberton believes we need to address and talk about.
It is already known that, in the veterinary profession, rates of mental illness and suicide are far higher than the general population. One in three vets are thought to suffer from depression, anxiety or stress, compared to one in six among the general population; while two in three are considered 'at risk' drinkers. Suicide rates are three to four times higher than the general population.
This is thought to be down to work intensity, working hours and feeling undervalued by senior staff, but Dr Pemberton believes the 'personality structure' of vets could also play a part. The profession is attracting highly driven, focused and determined people who are required to 'jump through hoops' before they even get into practice, where they face a plethora of further challenges. Such driven personalities - while beneficial in many ways - could actually be very detrimental to mental health.
Practice managers are hugely important in recognising and helping to address mental illness in their staff, he added. Just five per cent of people are treated by a psychiatrist, while the majority are dealt with by their GP and many more do not seek help.
With his own patients, Dr Pemberton said it is often their manager or member of senior staff that noticed there was a problem, which led to the person seeking help. As a result, it is vitally important that managers know what to look for in their staff. It may often be physical symptoms that are noticed first, such as lack of appetite, concentration or enjoyment of everyday things.
If you are worried about a member of staff, Dr Pemberton advised seeing a GP as the first port of call, or visiting A&E and asking for the mental health team, which are always available. Patients can also self-refer via the IAPT in England.
BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.
