McArthur Hafen

Much has been discussed about the high prevalence of psychological distress among veterinary medical students. Studies investigating general samples of veterinary medical students indicate that, on average, depression and anxiety symptoms are present at higher rates than in comparison samples. However, little is known about veterinary medical students who seek counseling. This study intends to expand the literature on veterinary student well-being, as the first to examine a sample of veterinary medical students seeking counseling services. It offers an overview of student distress and help-seeking trends from a decade of counseling services provided in one College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in the US. The sample includes data from 279 participants. Results indicate a steady increase in students seeking counseling over the last decade. First-year students sought services at higher rates but second-year students experienced the greatest distress when compared to other cohorts. Students seeking counseling services experienced levels of overall distress, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and social role concerns that were, on average, above cut-off scores. Physical health was significantly associated with student distress, suggesting opportunities for intervention.

In the past decade, communication training within veterinary medical training programs has received extensive publicity. Now, training programs are utilizing large-group lecturing, small-group discussions, and simulated client programs to address the need for veterinarians to effectively communicate with their clients. This paper presents a communication training protocol utilized at Kansas State University. The principle focus of this protocol is utilizing filmed student interactions with authentic veterinary medical clients. All veterinary medical students are required to film two interactions with hospital clientele. After each filmed session, students attend feedback sessions where communication strengths and weaknesses are discussed. Specific communication goals are identified for future interactions. A detailed description of the protocol follows, with preliminary impressions from students and instructors noted. As a promising tool for teaching communication skills, future directions for filmed authentic interactions are discussed.

The present study evaluated the impact of academic and non-academic stressors on depression levels in a longitudinal investigation of 78 first-year veterinary medical students enrolled at Kansas State University (KSU). Students completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale during their first and second semesters to evaluate the dependent variable, depression. Students provided information about specific stressors and relevant demographic variables that yielded independent variables. One-third of veterinary medical students surveyed in their first and second semesters reported depression levels above the clinical cut-off; 15% of the sample experienced an increase in depression of at least one standard deviation, despite the apparent stability of the proportion of students experiencing significant depressive symptoms. Students whose depression scores increased by one standard deviation or who maintained scores above the clinical cut-off score were identified as struggling. Struggling students reported more first-semester homesickness and academic concerns, along with difficulty fitting in with peers and poorer perceived physical health during the second semester. This study helped to identify those students most prone to develop or maintain concerning depression scores. The discussion section addresses specific suggestions for intervening with struggling students.

Older adults who provide care for an adult child with a disability have rarely been considered when investigating propensity to plan for future care. Families in these circumstances are at risk of experiencing a crisis as these caregiving parents experience personal health challenges. This study investigated influences on the plans made by adults caring for adult offspring with a disability for their own as well their offspring's future care. Results indicated that parents who cared for an adult child with a disability were more likely to plan for their offspring's than their own care and the more planning they did for their adult child, the more they were likely to do for themselves. Implications are discussed.

Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are applying their specific skill set in a variety of arenas. A new area for collaboration is veterinary medicine. The veterinary medical profession is emphasizing the importance of nonbiomedical skills such as communication skills, acknowledging that human clientele are likely to view their pets as family members, and discussing veterinarian personal well‐being. Each of these trends has clear application for intervention by MFTs. A discussion of how MFTs may be uniquely positioned to assist veterinary medicine is presented. An example of collaboration between MFT and veterinary medicine at Kansas State University is highlighted. Recommendations are made for development of effective educational relationships and possible private sector collaborations.

Historically, veterinary medical students’ mental health has rarely been investigated, but recently there has been renewed interest in this topic. The present study evaluated depression and anxiety levels in a cross-sectional investigation of 93 first-year veterinary medical students enrolled at Kansas State University (KSU). During their first semester, students completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Mental Health Inventory's Anxiety Scale (MHI-A). Results indicate that 32% of these first-year KSU veterinary students were experiencing clinical levels of depressive symptoms. Additionally, students reported elevated anxiety scores. Predictors of depression and anxiety levels include homesickness, physical health, and unclear instructor expectations. Areas of intervention with a focus on improving veterinary medical student well-being are discussed.