Resident well-being resources
Why resident well-being matters
Residency is an intense and demanding period that can impact mental, emotional, physical, and financial well-being. ACVS recognizes that residents face unique pressures and significant personal and professional transitions. Access to timely, trustworthy resources can play an important role in supporting overall well-being, resilience, and long-term career sustainability. This page is intended to help residents more easily find support and tools that meet their individual needs—whether for proactive self-care or during more challenging times.
Disclaimer
The resources listed on these pages are provided for informational and support purposes only. They are not intended to replace professional medical, mental health, or emergency care. ACVS does not endorse or guarantee any specific provider, service, or resource. Residents are encouraged to seek care from qualified professionals and to use their own judgment when accessing these resources. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or are in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline right away.
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988
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- Connects callers to their local crisis center and a trained crisis counselor
- Can be called on behalf of someone who is in crisis for guidance on how to support them
- Crisis Text Line
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- Text-based support from a trained crisis counselor
- Text HOME to 741-741 for immediate assistance
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
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- Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) for immediate support
- National Sexual Assault Hotline
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- Call 800-656-HOPE (4653) for immediate support
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline
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- Free, confidential, 24/7/365 treatment referral and information service
- Call 800-662-HELP (4357)
- Nonprofit organization focused on improving relationships through therapy, education, and clinician training using a Family Systems Approach
- Fees for staff therapists start as low as $50/session; interns offer therapy starting at $15/session
- No one is turned away due to financial constraints
- Call 215-382-6680 ext. 1
- Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL)
- Free assessment tool for healthcare professionals measuring burnout, compassion fatigue, stress, moral distress, and perceived support
- Includes tools and resources related to sleep, work-life boundaries, grounding techniques, mindfulness, breathing exercises, and stress management
- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Financial Planning and Budgeting Resources: centralized financial resources, particularly helpful for Canadian residents
- Not One More Vet (NOMV) Small Individual Grants Program: provides grants to veterinary professionals and students. Funds may be used for rent, groceries, medical bills, and other essential needs (not tuition)
- AVMA Financial Planning Resources
- VIN Student Loan Forgiveness Webinars
- SMART Lab (Ohio State University): breathing and meditation modules designed to reduce stress
- 7-Minute Workout: short, accessible physical activity resource (may require a subscription to the Washington Post or single-access payment
- Exercise is as effective as medication (NPR news)
- ACVS Connect: platform for ACVS Diplomates and surgery residents for professional connection and peer support
*Not veterinary medicine specific
- Dr. Marie Holowaychuk: a small animal emergency and critical care specialist and certified yoga and meditation teach who passionately advocates for the mental health and well-being of veterinary teams.
- American College of Surgeons Well-being Resources*
- AAVMC Guidelines for Veterinary Intern and Resident Wellbeing
- AVMA Axon: has several free webinars available, including Leadership, Well-being, Personal Finance, and Career Development
*Not veterinary medicine specific
- American Medical Association: Physician Burnout*
- Mindshift: Helps you learn how to relax, develop more helpful ways of thinking, and identify steps to take charge of your anxiety.
- Virtual Hope Box: contains simple tools to help with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking.
- Insight Timer: provides guided meditation, music and talks by contributing experts.
- Smiling Mind: practice daily meditation and mindfulness exercises.
- Calm: learn to reduce anxiety, work on your sleep and increase happiness. (Many features require a paid subscription, but some are free.)
- iBreathe: guides you through deep breathing exercises and lets you create your own breathing exercises.
- Breethe: learn to wind down with meditations, hypnotherapy, stories, music, sounds, and an AI coach.
- Headspace: offers meditation and mindfulness techniques to manage anxiety, improve sleep, and becoming happier. (Many features require a paid subscription, but some are free.)
- How We Feel: provides a space to describe how you feel, track your emotions, spot trends and patterns, and practice simple strategies to regulate your emotions in health ways.
- Mindfulness: provides guided meditation to help you towards a more peaceful and healthier state of mind.
