Veterinarians Fight Suicide

My journey as a mental health therapist has included a variety of challenging situations, clients, and coworkers. As a passionate and energized grad student, I was far from experiencing burnout and felt certain I could handle whatever came my way. 

It only took 4 years of full-time employment in the agency world to make burnout a reality. Anxiety and depression were more present than usual and at my worst I felt overwhelmed with dread as I entered the agency doors. At some point, repetitive exposure to trauma without adequate support will do this to anyone.

Knowing the burnout rate in mental health care is so high, I hadn’t paid much attention to how other professions compare. So I was shocked when I learned veterinarians, especially women veterinarians, are at a higher risk of suicide than the average population. 

Some of the risk factors veterinarians can face include: 

• Massive student loan debt

• Inadequate salaries

• Emotional strain (major sways from elation to anxiety)

• Exposure to trauma, disease and death on a daily basis

• Exhaustion and burnout

• Isolation from others

• Working long hours

• Lack of internal support

• Cyberbullying from angry pet owners

• Easy access to lethal euthanasia medications

All of these factors, especially access to lethal medication, can make someone experiencing suicidal thoughts to die by their own hand. If there are any veterinarians reading this, please know you are not alone. Online communities like “Not One More Vet” are working to to provide support to struggling vets around the world. 

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide and need immediate support please pick up the phone and call the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you are in Colorado you can also text “TALK” to 38255. 

Veterinarians and therapists are not the only ones struggling. Are you aware of other professions that derive stress factors similar to the list above? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.