Ms. Angie Arora MSW, RSW

Veterinary Social Worker

Bio:

Angie Arora is a Veterinary Social Worker supporting the human needs that arise from human-animal relationships, specializing in veterinary mental health & wellbeing, pet loss, and equity issues. In her private practice, Angie provides trauma-informed support, coaching, and

psychoeducational training to veterinary professionals and hospitals to improve professional quality of life, addressing issues of 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. 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, completed

her Compassion Fatigue Specialist certification with the Traumatology Institute and completed her International Coaching Federation training with the Mind Rebel Academy.

Synopsis:

In light of growing attention to the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals, this session will help managers better understand the spectrum of suicide ideation with a specific focus on warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors. At an acute level, suggestions will be shared on how to respond to someone in distress along with ways to support teams should death by suicide occur. At a preventative level, ways to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals will be explored.

This session is not meant to replace skills-based suicide intervention training but rather is to provide foundational information to better understand the issue and support employees. Because sensitive issues like suicide will be discussed, participants are encouraged to consider their comfort level prior to registering.