Program Description:
Psychological health and safety in the workplace can be best understood as: "A workplace that actively works to prevent psychological harm to its employees; and when harm occurs, has the support, knowledge, skills, and capacity to address it."
While traditional definitions of workplace safety have focused on preventing and addressing physical harm, there is now a greater need and appreciation for workplaces that are actively working to reduce psychological and emotional harm enabling individuals to work with greater comfort, safety, and the confidence they deserve. This environment has a direct correlation with retention, the individuals professional psyche, team dynamics, workplace relationships, and overall health and quality of life.
This session will explore the psychosocial factors required to improve professional and ultimately personal quality of life, including but not limited to organizational norms (i.e. clarity in leadership & expectations, employee involvement & engagement, work-life balance, etc.), methods of improving our relationships with one another (i.e. respect, equity, recognition & reward, etc.), and support necessary for employers to provide (i.e. growth & development, workload management, psychological & social protection).
Learning Objectives
- Identify the connection and distinction between psychological safety vs. psychological health and safety.
- Identify psychosocial factors veterinary professionals should consider to improve teamwork and foster holistic & safe working conditions.
- Analyze the effects of discrimination, oppression and inequities and how they contribute to a lack of psychological health and safety in the workplace.
- Review a suggested framework to begin the process of improving workplace psychological health and safety.
About the Presenter
Angie Arora, MSW, RSW
Angie Arora is a Veterinary Social Worker supporting the human needs that arise from human-animal relationships, specializing in veterinary well-being, pet loss support, and equity issues within veterinary medicine.
In her private practice as a Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist and Wellbeing Coach, Angie provides trauma-informed support, coaching, and psychoeducational training to veterinary professionals and hospitals to improve professional quality of life, addressing burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue.
She served on the inaugural Board of Directors for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work and is actively involved in other relevant veterinary medicine initiatives including blendVET, the International Association of Veterinary Social Work, and the Canadian Collective for Equity in Veterinary Medicine. Her current organizational clients include the Toronto Zoo, King Animal Hospital, and NVA Canada, among other veterinary practices.
Angie is a professor with Seneca College's School of Community Services in Canada, where she developed and teaches a micro-credential improving stress management for those working in veterinary and shelter medicine.
She completed her Bachelor of Social Work with the Toronto Metropolitan University, Master of Social Work with York University and is deeply committed to her personal and professional growth. She is certified in Emotional CPR with the National Empowerment Centre. She completed her Compassion Fatigue Specialist certification with the Traumatology Institute and completed her International Coaching Federation training with the Mind Rebel Academy.
What You'll Receive
- 1.0 hr RACE approved CE credit
- On-demand Availability
- 6-month content access
- blendVET Course Completion Certificate