https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/f/nonclinical-discussions/30969/mental-health-day-for-vet-practices I was speaking with my vet the other day and she brought up an idea of having a &#39;mental health day&#39; that involves giving the vet practice a day off to basically recuperate from working so hard in a stressful, high pressure environment, as well as promotingen-USTelligent Community 10https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/thread/171389?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 06 Feb 2018 11:39:53 GMT1a0763ec-3885-442c-853e-6cef656dfec5:cfaa1f71-9edf-4b59-ab71-25a375b0afcbEms<p>We discussed this topic recently at my work as a colleague had read about a work place that offered up to 4 days in the year as &quot;mental health days&quot; where you could call in &quot;sick&quot; and not lose out on holidays/absence for it.</p> <p>My only concern is that some people may abuse this and see it as extra day&#39;s holidays instead of what it&#39;s intended for. I think having something like this or a flexible working pattern would be beneficial for staff.</p> <p>I actually had to take a half day yesterday due to my mental health;&nbsp;I didn&#39;t want to call in sick in the morning as I felt guilty that I wasn&#39;t actually &quot;ill&quot; so to speak but after a few hours I just couldn&#39;t handle it anymore. I had accumulated over time from working the weekend and used it as time in lieu (which then means I lose out on the cash which is a bit rubbish). I&#39;m glad I did it though as I&#39;m feeling much better for it today, however, if my department was busy I doubt I don&#39;t know if this would have been feasible...</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/thread/171387?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 06 Feb 2018 09:16:31 GMT1a0763ec-3885-442c-853e-6cef656dfec5:3bcf5fb3-fb36-4797-bfad-ab2865a21480Sal the 1st<p>its a good idea in principle but I would be more in favour of using it to highlight to clients that veterinary staff are only human and have the same needs as everybody else (even basic stuff like sleep and being given the opportunity to prepare and eat a meal) - a bit like the ambulance service have done highlighting the number of odd calls they get. We cover our own OOH and currently have 1 vet covering up to 6 nights in a week. We are lucky in that most of our clients are sensible with what constitutes an emergency (MOST) but we still get the odd few that aren&#39;t.&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/thread/171385?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 06 Feb 2018 09:00:30 GMT1a0763ec-3885-442c-853e-6cef656dfec5:423f8c67-0bfa-4704-a9c5-88897632e224Ipek Seyis<p>Yes exactly. It wouldn’t be one set day. Maybe like a mental illness awareness week !</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/thread/171384?ContentTypeID=1Tue, 06 Feb 2018 06:31:08 GMT1a0763ec-3885-442c-853e-6cef656dfec5:2cff82e9-b5bf-4df1-b23b-9ab931509367Alison Clare Hickman<p>presumably the closure of the practice is covered by another practice or OOH service? Otherwise, some one in your practice doesn&#39;t get the day/night off...</p> <p>A share system by local practices?</p> <p></p><div style="clear:both;"></div>