For many, the idea of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine takes shape early in life. They love animals, develop a bond with them, and proclaim “I want to be a vet when I grow up.” As such, it’s logical to think that those who become veterinarians or veterinary technicians must be living their dream. And, what could possibly be better than for someone’s dream to come true? The reality, though, is that they wind up doing what they dreamed of — caring for the animals and helping people — but it often comes with a lot of unanticipated stress. We’ve always known that working in veterinary medicine isn’t always about playing with puppies and cuddling kittens. In fact, over the past decade we have learned that the truth is far more complicated and that many working in the profession are struggling. Mental health and psychological wellbeing of veterinary professionals continues to be a concern that none of us should lose sight of.
Psychological distress is reportedly high and too many working in the profession describe themselves as suffering. The landmark study conducted by Merck Animal Health (Merch Animal Health Wellbeing Study1) spelled it out for us:
- In 2017, 5.3% of veterinary professionals reported severe psychological distress. By 2021, that figure had nearly doubled to 9.7% based on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. This trend reflects a notable rise in significant mental health concerns across the profession.
- With respect to overall wellbeing, only 56% of veterinarians and 26% of veterinary technicians described themselves as flourishing. Conversely a small but important subset — 12.3% of veterinarians and 3.8% of veterinary technicians — reported they were suffering. The remainder described themselves as just getting by.
These numbers underscore a painful truth — a substantial segment of the veterinary workforce are experiencing mental health challenges and are not thriving in their work environment.
So, what about veterinary medicine is so stressful? Anyone who works in the profession knows, but laypeople are often unaware. It’s the daily demands — long hours, emotional fatigue, client financial constraints, client communication challenges, and occasional moral distress; These are cumulative stressors that can quickly stack up. In the worst of circumstances, it can lead to suicide. More commonly, the resulting psychological stress contributes to burnout, and nearly half of veterinary staff report moderate to high levels of burnout. And when burnout takes hold, the consequences ripple beyond individual wellbeing. Burnout is directly linked to employee attrition and turnover.
- Veterinarians experience a turnover rate of 16%—twice that of medical doctors 2
- Veterinary technicians have a staggering turnover rate of 26% 2
- 31% of veterinary staff report they plan to leave the profession within the next two years 1
For an industry already facing workforce shortages, these statistics should serve as a wake-up call to employers. In 2019, only about 38% of clinics reported that they offered support for their teams’ mental health and wellbeing. Employers who have not yet taken steps to offer employee assistance programs or wellness resources must be proactive in supporting the emotional wellbeing of their teams to foster improved job satisfaction and overcome retention challenges across the field.
In addition to providing these supports, we must all do a better job of doing what we can to encourage those who need the help to actually embrace the opportunity and engage with them. We know that even when veterinary professionals recognize a need for help, many won’t seek it - 59% of veterinarians experiencing severe psychological distress reported that they knew they needed professional help but didn’t or couldn’t get it. Barriers to seeking help include stigma / shame, cost, lack of time, fear of judgment, and concerns about career repercussions. Workplace culture also appears to be a barrier and a major factor that influences wellbeing. Only 11.4% of veterinary professionals consider their workplace culture as "good," and less than half believe their practice has a strong sense of belonging and trust.1,3
The bottom is that the veterinary profession is full of compassionate, intelligent, and resilient individuals — but resilience alone cannot overcome a system that continually strains individuals and doesn’t help them to thrive. For veterinary medicine to flourish, everyone must commit not only to animal welfare — but to the welfare of the people who provide it.
Resources:
- ThriveBridge – An Opportunity for Transformation
- Professional Development and Wellbeing webinars
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
References:
[1] Merck Animal Health Wellbeing Study
[2] American Veterinary Medical Association
[3] Hound
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