Professionals Health Program (PHP)
Do you know someone in need of help with substance abuse or psychological problems?
Help is available right now through the Professionals Health Program
Confidential Toll-Free Line: 1.800.851.6606
What is the Professionals Health Program (PHP)?
The Professionals Health Program (PHP) provides veterinarians and concerned colleagues access to prompt, professional and completely confidential advice, support, and referral to appropriate services. Professional case managers (accessible via a confidential, toll-free phone line) help veterinarians assess the problems, then provide referrals to the individual for counselling and clinical services in the community.
Confidential
The Professionals Health Program is operated at arm’s length from OVMA through the offices of the Ontario Medical Association. PHP staff understand that callers may have difficulty in sharing their personal concerns with others. Personal health information is a private matter and PHP staff go to great lengths to ensure an individual’s privacy and confidentiality are respected. Callers have the right to remain anonymous if they wish.
What kinds of problems can the PHP help me with?
- Emotional Distress
- Anxiety
- Drug and Alcohol
- Abuse
- Depression
- Family Problems
- Disruptive Behaviour
- Gambling
- Burnout
- Personal and Professional Isolation
- Relationship Problems
- Stress
How do I recognize a problem?
Signs and symptoms that you or a friend may need help, include:
- Personality change
- Loss of efficiency and reliability
- Client and staff complaints about changing attitude or behaviour
- Increased sick time and time away from work
- Excessive time at work
- Mood swings, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts or gestures
- Indecision
- Increasing personal and professional isolation
- Physical deterioration
- Unpredictable work habits and patterns
- Memory loss
- Heavy “wastage” of drugs
- Alcohol on the breath
- Inappropriate clinical judgement
Services Offered by the Professionals Health Program
- Telephone advice and support for DVMs, their families and concerned colleagues
- Preliminary assessment
- Intervention coordination
- Referral for counselling and clinical services
- Recovery monitoring
- Case management & advocacy
- Community outreach through presentations and continuing education
Originally developed by the Ontario Medical Association for physicians, the Professionals Health Program is now offered to Ontario veterinarians through the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. The program is administered by the Ontario Medical Association with generous funding provided by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario.
Untreated, veterinarians may suffer needlessly and may put themselves, their families and the animals they treat at risk.
Help is available. . .
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Peers
This is a new series of articles contributed to Focus by the Professionals Health Program (PHP). A human physician, Dr. Kaufmann understands a scientist’s intrinsic need/desire to dissect life’s challenges so that they make quantifiable sense. He has devised the acronym, “BASICS” to help illustrate how things like physiology, attitude, society, intellect and spirituality affect us each day – particularly if we fail to keep each of them in check.
"A" is for Affect (Thinking, feeling and behaviour)
"S" is for Social (Friends, Lovers and Family)