Is Your Job Hurting Your Mental Health?
It’s no secret—millennials are feeling the pressure. A recent survey found that 45% of millennials say their job negatively affects their mental health, and the veterinary world is no exception. Long hours, emotional cases, student debt, and the ever-present pressure to be perfect have created the perfect storm for burnout. But now, two bold voices are stepping up to challenge the silence.
Enter Vet Candy’s new talk show, POP, hosted by Dr. Elan Armstrong and Dr. Shannon Gregoire—two veterinarians who aren’t afraid to speak up, speak out, and get real about what it’s like behind the exam room door.
In the show’s newest episode, “It is okay not to be okay” the hosts open up about their own struggles with workplace anxiety, unrealistic expectations, and navigating a profession that too often forgets to care for the caregivers. The conversation is candid, refreshing, and long overdue.
“Vet med can be incredibly isolating,” says Dr. Armstrong. “We want POP to feel like that conversation you have with your best friend after a brutal shift—honest, validating, and real.”
Dr. Gregoire agrees: “It’s time we normalize the conversation around stress, boundaries, and mental wellness. Because if 45% of us are hurting, then we’re not alone—and we don’t have to pretend we’re okay.”
The episode offers more than just relatable stories—it’s filled with actionable advice. From setting digital boundaries to recognizing the early signs of burnout, the duo shares tools that anyone, in any stage of their career, can use.
And while the tone is serious, POP isn’t all heavy. With plenty of humor, authenticity, and camaraderie, the show keeps things light enough to be binge-worthy, but deep enough to hit home.
POP is more than a talk show—it’s a movement. One that’s reminding veterinary professionals that speaking up is strong, rest is radical, and no one should suffer in silence. Thank you to PRN Pharmacal, maker of Reconcile for Dogs for sponsoring. Inside, expert Dr. Wailani Sung explains all about separation anxiety!
