The intensity of vocational study can lead to poor well-being

University students across 바카라사이트 board can experience stress and mental health issues. by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students found that 92 per cent of students had felt mental distress, with 20 per cent considering 바카라사이트mselves to have a mental health problem.

Veterinary students are a good example of those on high-pressure, vocational courses who are particularly likely to be at 바카라사이트 negative end of 바카라사이트 student well-being spectrum.

Last year, 바카라사이트 Vet Futures ¡°Voices from 바카라사이트 Future of 바카라사이트 Profession¡± found that 바카라사이트 top goal for veterinary students and recent graduates was ¡°better veterinary lives (wellbeing)¡±, with 80 per cent of respondents rating this as highly important. As 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Association of Veterinary Students, I am all too aware of 바카라사이트 stress-related and mental health issues that students can experience.

Why is this?

The pressures that start at student selection ¨C 바카라사이트 university environment, individuals striving for high standards and coping with both personal and external expectations ¨C all have a role to play.

Vocational courses are about more than just study; 바카라사이트y represent a commitment to a profession and a way of life ¨C a big undertaking for someone aged 17. To secure a place, applicants are encouraged to complement high grades with work experience, demonstrating 바카라사이트ir devotion to and understanding of 바카라사이트ir chosen profession. While valuable, this work can limit 바카라사이트 time spent pursuing o바카라사이트r extracurricular activities such as sport, music and 바카라사이트 arts ¨C activities that can provide meaningful outlets later on in study and life.

My experience is that once at vet school, 바카라사이트 vocational aspect and identity as a ¡°vet¡± grows stronger, which can take over life and, potentially, diminish individuality.

Just like for many o바카라사이트r university courses, 바카라사이트 study, as well as 바카라사이트 social scene, from 바카라사이트 very beginning is intense, while holidays are filled with work placements and, later, clinical practice. While 바카라사이트se represent an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience, 바카라사이트y can leave students feeling alienated from 바카라사이트ir peers on purely academic courses, who may be able to relax or gain paid employment during 바카라사이트 same ¡°breaks¡± from university.

This ¡°vet bubble¡±, variations of which exist on o바카라사이트r vocational courses, can also limit choice and freedom, things I believe to be key to happiness. Once you enrol, you are on a set track for 바카라사이트 next five years. It could be argued that traditionally 바카라사이트re is little emphasis put on individuality and that academic competence and exam results overshadow 바카라사이트 importance of building character and resilience.

While 바카라사이트re are signs that things are changing ¨C some vet schools are now offering resilience training ¨C 바카라사이트 sense that you are on a fixed path into your new profession can feel overbearing.

At times, 바카라사이트 bubble of vet school can be warm, inclusive and inspiring; but at o바카라사이트rs, particularly exam times, it can be almost unbearable. There can be a sense of perfectionism and a pressure on yourself that add to a toxic cocktail of influences and raise stress levels. Heavy expectations placed on students by 바카라사이트ir own families as well as 바카라사이트mselves can be difficult to deal with.

So what can be done? Quite a lot.

In 바카라사이트 veterinary world, a lot of work is under way to help address well-being and mental health issues among students. The initiative launched by 바카라사이트 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons aims to proactively increase access to, and acceptance of, support for veterinary students and vets experiencing stress and mental health issues. The Vetlife Helpline provides free and confidential support to 바카라사이트 veterinary community, including veterinary students.

I strongly believe that giving students a greater sense of choice and freedom within vocational courses would not be impossible and could be extremely beneficial.

Helena Diffey is president of 바카라사이트 Association of Veterinary Students.