THE YEAR OF HOPE, DECLARES THE HOPE VETERINARY FOUNDATION
Thousands of Vets Will Literally ‘See Hope Everywhere’ in Orlando at VMX Conference
WILMINGTON, Del., January 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Google’s Year in Search named 2021 the year of “healing,” as people searched for ways to improve their physical and mental health. This year, the new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization the Veterinary Hope Foundation (VHF) boldly declares 2022 as the YEAR OF HOPE.
This year, the new non-profit organization Veterinary Hope Foundation (VHF) boldly declares 2022 as THE YEAR OF HOPE.
Formed in 2021 by a small group of concerned veterinarians, the VHF is the “little association that could”. In less than eight months, VHF formed a 501c3 foundation and assembled a full board of directors and founding sponsors, including pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim and a full-service advertising agency. Bader-Rutter, all of whom have dedicated time, resources and funds to support mental wellness in the veterinary community. Now the non-profit organization is showing up at VMX, the world’s largest veterinary conference, January 15-19 in Orlando, with the noble objective of surrounding 10,000 veterinarians and their teams with hope.
One of the founders of VHF, Blair McConnell, VMD, said: “Like other healthcare professionals right now, vets are burnt out. They are leaving the profession and suffering from mental health issues. VHF is bringing the industry together to share this common message, ‘We We’re bringing you resources. And, most importantly, pet owners and animal lovers of all shapes and sizes care about you. You matter. There is HOPE. ‘”
Bader-Rutter, a founding sponsor of VHF, has developed a campaign to both boost morale and raise awareness of these issues. At VMX, the VHF features QR codes of all shapes, colors and sizes (from coffee sleeves to a 79-foot installation) throughout the conference venue to show love and appreciation to attendees. More than two dozen unique videos will feature quick thank you messages to vets from pets and their owners. This activation is already bringing the pet care community together, as more than five exhibiting companies have agreed to put VHF QR codes and messages on their booths to further spread hope.
A key differentiator for VHF is its belief that the veterinary profession should build small communities of support. Not only does the organization bring together pet food, animal health, and pet retail companies to address these issues, but it also brings together veterinarians. VHF offers breakout sessions for veterinary professionals. These support groups allow veterinarians to connect in a safe, confidential and caring space. Led by a licensed mental health professional, the groups focus on topics important to practicing veterinarians, such as balancing family and work, coping with grief, cultivating emotional resilience, and communication. with customers in difficulty.
The results of the first support groups are extremely positive. One vet noted, “Exactly what I didn’t know I needed, but [the group] provided me with more insight than months of 1:1 therapy.” All support group participants who were interviewed strongly agreed that we need more resources to address mental health challenges and that support groups are one of the most effective ways to provide help.
You can learn more about the foundation, its support groups, and how you or your organization can help spread hope at VeterinaryHope.org. Learn more about our VMX activation in this short overview video: https://youtu.be/0XiM0ehM01s.
About the Veterinary Hope Foundation
Founded in May 2021, the Veterinary Hope Foundation (VHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on early education and connection programs tailored to the animal care community. Founded on the belief that there is hope for vets in crisis, VHF provides vets with the tools and support they need to manage common stressors unique to their profession. With veterinarians on three times more likely than the general population to die by suicide, VHF aims to generate widespread awareness of the issue and generate lasting change through its public awareness campaign. Governed by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee comprised of mental health experts, practicing veterinarians and animal lovers, VHF is uniquely positioned to impact the future of the veterinary profession. To learn more about VHF, please visit VeterinaryHope.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and instagram.
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SOURCE Veterinary Hope Foundation