In this blog for Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month 2026, BVNA Junior Vice President Steph Worsley discusses how depression can manifest in so many ways, but there is no shame in admitting you are struggling.
Find out more about VNAM here, and how you can get involved this year.
In 2026, admitting you suffer from depression still carries stigma – even, and sometimes especially, in the veterinary world. We are meant to be strong, resilient, there for every client and patient.
My name is Steph and I was diagnosed with depression during my final year as an SVN back in 2002. I am lucky that I have had support from friends and family, it was actually my parents who encouraged me to seek help. I have been on anti-depressant medication since that point and I hold no shame in admitting these facts.
Depression manifests in so many ways, for me I can struggle with some of the most basic day-to-day tasks such as not wanting to get up, washing my dishes, cooking myself meals, cleaning the house, this can then culminate in shame which then perpetuates the cycle. There are times my temper is shorter than it should be and small things irritate me where on a good day those little things wash over me. I can and will burst into tears over small things.
I still have dark weeks, days, hours, moments. There are times I will cancel plans at the last minute as I just can’t face the outside world. Those days it is hard to see that there is light past the dark, however it is there.
That being said, thanks to support and not being ashamed of my condition, I have progressed my RVN career over the last 24 years since my diagnosis. I have held a varied career including Internal medicine nurse at a large referral university hospital and currently Head RVN of a 2 branch small animal practice, and current Junior Vice President of BVNA.
Finding coping strategies can be hard, so many people say that you must exercise – this is not something I have ever enjoyed and still do not find I get the natural endorphin release that a lot of people do. My “happy” moments come from spending time with my cats, gardening and sewing. I also allow myself time to “reset”. I will allow myself that duvet day where possible, I also find water very relaxing so I will drive to a beach or somewhere with a large body of water and sit and look at the water, either in silence or listening to music.
If you are struggling, if any of the things that I have mentioned resonate with you, I would urge you to seek some help and guidance – your GP, your employer’s employee assistance programme, Vetlife are all there for you. Please remember there is no shame in admitting you are struggling, there is strength in it, I know I felt a huge weight lifted when I first spoke about it. I will always speak about it, the more people who do the less stigma will surround mental health, and hopefully people will seek the help they need.
Steph Worsley, BVNA Junior Vice President
