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Read our open access paper, Alcohol-related Stigma within the UK Veterinary Profession
In this exploratory study implementing Braun & Clarke's Reflexive Thematic Analysis, we interviewed 17 veterinarians about their perceptions and attitudes towards alcohol-use in the UK veterinary profession.
Drinking to cope with work demands was reported to be both normalised and widespread.
Harmful drinking negatively impacted mental health with high levels of perceived alcohol-related stigma making the topic taboo. This was was often internalised, associated with emotions such as shame, guilt and worthlessness.
This internalised stigma, as well as fear of negative career repercussions such as were described as barriers to seeking support.
Listen here to the Veterinary Voices on Air podcast
Drinking in the Veterinary Profession: What's the story so far?
Olivia and Danny Chambers MP discuss what we know so far about drinking in the veterinary profession, how drinking to excess is often normalised and drinking to cope encouraged: having negative implications on our mental health. We also discuss some of the barriers to help-seeking faced by those in veterinary practice who wish to reduce their alcohol consumption.
The research team were awarded the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Mind Matters Initiative Impact Grant in 2024 to conduct an online survey to identify factors associated with alcohol behaviours and how drinking is linked to mental health as well as to map the influences on alcohol reduction and help-seeking amongst UK veterinary workers.
The paper "Alcohol Harm, Mental Health and Opportunities for Change in Veterinary Practice: A Cross-Sectional Study," is currently in Press.
For a brief outline of the findings from this study, see the infographic below or listen to our webinar "Opening the Conversation Around Alcohol Us in a Veterinary Setting," for further insight and discussion on th topic of alcohol use in practice.
Follow us on Social Media! Or check out the Oxford Brookes Health Behaviour and Wellbeing and the Oxford Brookes Alcohol Research Lab webpages to see other similar projects we are involved in.
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