Vetnews | Desember 2025 22 « BACK TO CONTENTS Encouraging Mid-Point Results from SAVA Resiliency Pilot Signal Hope for South African Veterinarians The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) has released encouraging mid-point results from its pioneering Resiliency Pilot Project, a national initiative designed to address the escalating wellbeing crisis facing veterinarians in South Africa. Launched in February 2025, the 12-month pilot will conclude in early 2026 and represents an unprecedented philanthropic collaboration between Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business, Merck, Royal Canin, MentorVet, and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), with UC Davis serving as the research partner. This consortium was formed in direct response to SAVA’s urgent appeal for help following the alarming mental health findings reported in its 2023 Vets in Crisis report. A Crisis Requiring Immediate Intervention The Vets in Crisis report released by SAVA in 2023 revealed that 38% of South African veterinarians met the threshold for probable clinical depression, with 64% of that group experiencing suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm. Burnout, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbance were widespread across all demographics, with younger and female veterinarians particularly affected. These findings underscored the urgent need for a sustained, evidence-based intervention – one that strengthens veterinarians’ wellbeing today while building a more resilient profession for the future. A Two-Phase Wellbeing and Satisfaction Development Model At the six-month mark, participants have now completed half of the highly acclaimed Leading Edge for Veterinarians program by Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business - an internationally respected training curriculum focused on communication, leadership, patient advocacy, emotional resilience, and professional self-worth. In the second half of the pilot, participants will complete the remaining 50 per cent of Leading Edge modules while beginning structured MentorVet training in parallel, creating a world-first dual track learning experience that blends targeted non-technical competency development with structured wellbeing mentorship and psychological skill-building. This combined approach is expected to generate new insights that will inform global veterinary wellbeing initiatives.
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