Beyond Surviving: Creating a Culture of Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine
The truth is, burnout broke me — but it also built my purpose.
Author & Role
Dr Tshidi Gardiner, BSC BVSc PG Cert SAS MRCVS, Trustee at Vets in Mind
Veterinary Surgeon | Bright Minds Wellbeing Champion Finalist | Bartram Wellbeing Award Winner | Mental Health First Aider | Wellbeing & Inclusion Advocate
1. Why This Story Matters
Burnout was never part of my plan. Like many in the profession, I believed that success meant working harder, caring more, and giving endlessly. Over time, that belief left me completely depleted — physically, emotionally, and mentally.
According to Vetlife, burnout is “a response to chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” It isn’t a personal weakness or diagnosis but an occupational phenomenon that occurs when the demands placed upon us outweigh the resources we have to meet them. That distinction matters deeply — because it means that what happened to me wasn’t a failure of strength, but a signal that something in our system needed to change.
Now, as a Trustee of Vets in Mind, a Wellbeing Champion Finalist (2025), and a Bartram Wellbeing Award winner (2022), I speak openly about my own experience because I know I’m not alone. My journey through burnout reshaped how I see wellbeing — not as a luxury, but as the foundation for a sustainable, compassionate career.
2. Understanding the Issue
Burnout doesn’t strike all at once. It creeps in slowly — the emotional exhaustion, the cynicism, the sense that no matter how much you do, it will never be enough. In our profession, it’s heartbreakingly common. Long hours, emotional intensity, and the pressure to always “get it right” take their toll.
For years, I wore my exhaustion as proof of commitment. As a practice owner, I was on call nearly every night, constantly juggling work and family life. But gradually, the spark that had driven me began to fade. I woke one morning and felt nothing — not joy, not pride, just emptiness. That was my quiet collapse.
At the time, I didn’t have the language for burnout. I thought I was failing as a vet, mum, wife, daughter, friend, when in reality I was simply running out of fuel. The experience forced me to rebuild my understanding of success, compassion, and leadership from the ground up.
3. A Profession Under Pressure
As I write this, we are all navigating a seismic change in the UK veterinary landscape. The ongoing CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) investigation has cast a long shadow across our profession, igniting intense scrutiny and public debate.
Many vets and practice teams have faced distressing, even abusive, behaviour from members of the public, the people we are charged to help. I’ve spoken with colleagues who are exhausted and heartbroken, describing how accusations of greed or mistrust have driven them to question their place in the profession.
I understand that pain because I’ve felt it myself. Being accused of caring “only for money” cuts deeply. It shakes your sense of purpose and identity. Holding compassion for clients while absorbing hostility can leave scars that no clinical training prepares you for.
This moment could have been devastating, but for me, it was clarifying. It reminds us that wellbeing is not optional. The emotional cost of our work must be acknowledged and addressed if we are to keep this profession alive. I believe in having a range of tools to deal with the multitude of challenging and sometimes stressful scenarios we encounter on a daily basis, a toolbox of resources, so to speak.
4. From Burnout to Blueprint: My Work with Vets in Mind
My experience of burnout eventually became the foundation for something new. Through my role as a Trustee of Vets in Mind, I now help turn lessons learned the hard way into practical tools that support others.
At Vets in Mind, we are committed to reducing stigma and ensuring that mental health resources are accessible and evidence-based. One of our key initiatives is the development of triage tools — simple, compassionate, anonymous guides to help veterinary professionals recognise the early signs of stress, anxiety, and burnout. These tools are designed to prompt reflection and encourage timely support before the crisis point.
Every story we hear — every colleague who admits they’re struggling — reinforces why this work matters. No vet, nurse, client care assistant, practice administrator or student should ever feel they must face mental ill-health alone.
5. Learning What Wellbeing Really Means
Recovery taught me that wellbeing isn’t soft; it’s strategic. It’s not something we do after hours, but something we build into how we live, lead, and care. I became an ICF certified life coach, Money Coach, NLP practitioner, Nutrition Coach, and weave positive psychology, inclusion and leadership to understand what sustainable wellbeing looks like in practice.
Since then, I’ve been honoured to serve as a judge for the BVA Wellbeing Awards. It warms my heart to see how others in our industry are working hard towards ensuring colleagues have a positive and inclusive experience at work. These experiences remind me that our profession is changing, that courage and compassion are now recognised as strengths, not soft skills.
The lesson I keep returning to is this: wellbeing is not an individual burden. It’s a collective responsibility. It should never be a tickbox exercise. It flourishes where teams talk openly, leaders model balance, and compassion extends inward as much as outward.
My passion for prevention led me to create wellnesswarren.com — a wellbeing hub offering free challenges, resources, reflective tools, and learning opportunities for veterinary professionals.
It’s a calm, inclusive space where anyone in the veterinary community can explore wellbeing at their own pace. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. Small, daily actions that protect mental health, reduce stress, and remind us that we are never alone in this journey.
6. What I’ve Learned About Burnout and Balance
After years of reflection, here are the truths I now hold close:
- You can’t heal in the same environment that broke you. Sometimes the bravest step is to pause.
- Rest is productive. Recovery isn’t weakness; it’s essential maintenance.
- Boundaries are compassion in action. They protect both you and those you serve.
- Leadership and wellbeing are intertwined. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
- Balance is dynamic. It’s built through small, consistent choices — not grand gestures.
Burnout taught me empathy, perspective, and the importance of systems that support, not strain their people.
7. My Top Wellbeing Tip
As a Mental Health First Aider, I’m trained to recognise the signs of emotional distress — in myself and others. The most important thing I’ve learned is that burnout is not a personal problem; it’s a response to chronic stress that can affect anyone, no matter how skilled or caring.
So my top tip is this: don’t do wellbeing alone. Join communities where wellbeing is part of the conversation, not an afterthought. Surround yourself with people and workplaces that value mental health, compassion, and rest as much as performance.
And please — ask for help early. Whether through Vets in Mind, Vetlife, or your trusted colleagues, know where to turn and use those resources before you think you “need” them. They exist to keep you connected, safe, and supported.
Strength isn’t about carrying everything; it’s about knowing when to share the weight.
8. Where to Find Help
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out:
- Vets in Mind: www.vets-in-mind.org
- VetLife Helpline: 0303 040 2551 — Free, confidential, 24/7 support
- Wellness Warren: https://www.skool.com/wellness-warren-1142
- Samaritans: 116 123 — 24-hour helpline
9. Takeaway Box
Key Message: Burnout is not a personal failing — it’s a signal for care. Seek help early, connect with others, and remember that wellbeing is a shared responsibility.
Try This: Join a wellbeing community or peer group this month. Share one resource or tip that’s helped you — connection is where healing begins.
10. Closing Note
Burnout broke me, but it also built my purpose. Today, through Vets in Mind and my ongoing advocacy for wellbeing, I’m committed to helping others move beyond surviving — toward a profession built on balance, empathy, and belonging.
We are living through one of the most challenging periods in veterinary history, yet I believe our compassion will see us through. Wellbeing isn’t a destination; it’s a community effort — one conversation, one act of kindness, one step at a time.
If you take anything from my story, let it be this: you are not alone, and your wellbeing is worth protecting.
This blog was written by Dr Tshidi Gardiner, Trustee at Vets in Mind, Wellness coach, and Mental Health, Wellbeing & Inclusion advocate.