Stress, anxiety, and depression are issues that many people in the U.S. and around the world face on a daily basis, and the pandemic definitely didn’t make anyone’s life any easier. Veterinary professionals are especially impacted by mental health issues, and studies demonstrate that individuals who pursue a career in veterinary medicine are at higher risk for mental health issues and more likley to consider suidice than people in other professions. Pets & Friends Animal Hospital wants you to understand some of the difficulties our team encounters, and we explain factors affecting veterinary professionals’ mental health.

#1: Veterinary professionals’ personality

Veterinary professionals tend to have perfectionist tendencies as well as a deep empathetic drive to help animals in need. While these characteristics help make them exceptional pet care providers, they can also lead to mental health problems. Striving for perfection can lead to veterinary professionals working long hours and worrying about outcomes long after the job is done for the day. In addition, naturally empathetic people are more likely to internalize guilt when their client’s express emotional distress.

#2: Veterinary industry staffing shortages

Veterinary staffing shortages have been a problem for years, and the pandemic only exacerbated the issue. Many veterinarians and veterinary technicians left the field or cut back their hours at the same time that the demand for veterinary care increased thanks to new pet adoptions during the shut down. This left the remaining veterinary professionals swamped and scrambling to try to provide care for as many pets as possible during their hectic day.

#3: Burnout and compassion fatigue

Burnout and compassion fatigue are issues veterinary professionals commonly face. Specifics include:

  • Burnout — The World Health Organization defines burnout as a condition caused by chronic workplace stress that is not successfully managed. Burnout involves mental and physical exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, feeling negatively towards one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy. A 2022 Veterinarian Wellbeing Study conducted by Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) showed that 30.5% of veterinarians and 49.6% of veterinary staff reported experiencing burnout.
  • Compassion fatigue — Compassion fatigue is defined as mental and physical distress that occurs when caregivers are chronically exposed to the suffering of pets, making the individual lose the ability to empathize with others. Compassion fatigue symptoms include exhaustion, frustration, depression, apathy, chronic health conditions, such as headaches and gastrointestinal issues, sleep disturances, and intrusive thoughts. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association revealed that 58.9% of veterinarians had high secondary traumatic stress scores which indicates compassion fatigue. In addition, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America’s 2022 demographic survey demonstrated that 65% of veterinary technicians reported feeling compassion fatigue.

#4: Financial stress

Veterinary medical school is costly and can leave graduates heavily indebted, and the average veterinary salary is about two and a half times lower than a physician’s salary despite a similar educational debt level. Many veterinarians struggle with financial stress for decades after veterinary school which can contribute to other stressors they encounter. Heavy indebtedness has also been linked to poor mental health outcomes.

#5: Depression

The difficulties and emotional turmoil veterinary professionals face can lead to depression. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that veterinary professionals were much more likely to commit suicide than the general U.S. population. Risk increases included:

  • Female veterinarians — Increased risk of 2.4 times
  • Male veterinarians — Increased risk of five times
  • Female veterinary technicians — Increased risk of 2.3
  • Male veterinary technicians — Increased risk of 1.6

Veterinary professionals need your help

Veterinary professionals must take responsibility for their mental health and practice appropriate self care, but we can use your help. Support you can provide includes:

  • Recognize the problem — Hopefully this information will help you understand the problems we face so you can be empathetic when interacting with our team.
  • Practice patience — When scheduling your pet’s appointment, realize that we are doing our best to accommodate your preferences, but our busy schedule doesn’t always allow for this. Please be patient and understanding when interacting with our staff members.
  • Plan ahead — Schedule your pet’s routine care as far in advance as possible to help ensure you get the appointment you prefer.
  • Think before you post — If you are upset about your pet’s care, please speak to us before posting an unkind or hurtful review. 
  • Consider pet insurance — One of the most difficult situations our team encounters is having to euthanize a pet when their owner can’t afford their care. Consider investing in pet insurance to ensure your pet’s veterinary bills are covered.
  • Say thank you — A simple “thank you” goes a long way and can brighten our day tremendously.

Our Pets & Friends Animal Hospital team greatly values your support, and we appreciate your understanding and patience. Contact us to schedule your pet’s next wellness visit or if you would like advice about investing in pet insurance.