Working at a veterinary office is one of the most rewarding jobs you can have, but it's also incredibly hard. Burnout, high medical debt, compassion fatigue, and long work weeks take their toll. Unfortunately, these stresses have led to high suicide rates among veterinarians, technicians, and technologists.

How are organizations like the AVMA and Not One More Vet helping reduce the risk? What can you do to make sure your co-workers are getting the care they need, and what can you do to take care of yourself?

Recent Studies Show a Troubling Pattern

A landmark 2019 CDC study analyzing National Violent Death Reporting System records from 1979-2015 found that veterinary professionals were at a much higher risk of dying by suicide than the general population, and these victims often didn't show warning signs associated with suicide risk.

The findings were sobering. Male veterinarians were 2.1 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, while females were 3.5 times more likely to do so. Male veterinary technicians and technologists were 5 times more likely to die by suicide, while females were 2.3 times more likely to do so. However, veterinary assistants and lab animal caretakers did not have a higher suicide rate than the general population.

More recent research confirms the crisis continues. The 2024 Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study revealed that 44% of veterinarians and 49% of veterinary technicians currently experience serious psychological distress—nearly double the rate of the general population.

Of suicide cases studied, poisoning was the most common cause of death, and pentobarbital, used for pet euthanasia, was the most common drug used. This drug was mostly used at home. Critically, when pentobarbital use was excluded from the data, male and female rates of suicide were similar to the general population, suggesting that access to lethal means is a major contributing factor.

Veterinarians are significantly less likely than technicians or technologists to have a history of suicide attempts beforehand. Only 30% disclosed suicidal intent, 55% had previously received mental health treatment, and 42% were under mental health or substance abuse treatment at the time of death.

While we don't know any specific single cause for this increased risk, there are a number of possible factors. In a CDC survey referenced by the suicide study, 9% of veterinary professionals had serious psychological distress, 31% had depressive episodes, and 17% had suicidal ideation between entering the workforce and now. In a related AVMA study, researchers found that one in 5 vets were cyberbullied, or had a colleague who was cyberbullied. 

Veterinarians are also stressed financially, with the average graduate starting their career with $150,000 of student debt. This is on top of other factors that are hard to pin down statistically, like burnout and compassion fatigue.

Reducing Drug-Related Suicides

Overall, physicians are more likely to use drugs to die by suicide, but the rate is even higher among veterinarians. This is possibly due to more lax controls on veterinary drugs. Organizations like the CDC are approaching veterinary drug use the same way they have approached human drug use.

Suggested measures include requiring two signatures to access pentobarbital, implementing locked storage with detailed logging, and decreasing access at pharmacies and clinics to prevent veterinarians from taking the drug home. Increased controls may be applied to opioids and other drugs that could be used as a substitute.

EAPs: Creating a Network of Employee Support

Clinics are increasingly turning to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to help their employees with mental health issues. EAP services take a holistic view of mental health, providing counseling services for everything from drug abuse treatment to retirement planning. The goal of these programs is to encourage employees to get help when they first need it, keeping them from developing serious problems later on. Supervisors can recommend the program to employees, or the employee can choose to use these services confidentially. While larger clinics may administer an EAP in-house, third-party providers are available, putting these services within reach of small clinics.

For these programs to be effective, employees need to be reminded that these services are available. If an employee hears about the program while they're facing problems, they're more likely to use these services. 

Likewise, it helps if employees can identify warning signs and suggest services to those in need. Withdrawal, irritability, fatigue, poor performance, and a pattern of lateness or absence are early signs of serious problems. Training is available to help employees identify these signs, including a one-hour course from the AVMA.

Strategies for Reducing Burnout

Overworking can make home and work life blend together, increasing stress and burnout. Clinics and employees can apply these strategies to get a break when they need one, while staying connected with friends and family:

• Get a locum tenens to fill in when a break is needed
• Adopt a flexible work schedule, allowing employees to trade hours with each other
• Plan for days off, so that you can be off for important family events, like birthdays
• Set firm boundaries around work hours and availability
• Prioritize relationships and activities outside of veterinary medicine

Resources and Help Are Available

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available right now. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 free, confidential support; just call or text 988. Organizations like Not One More Vet offer veterinary-specific peer support and resources for those who understand the unique pressures of this profession.

Supporting Your Practice and Your Team

Taking care of your team's mental health goes hand-in-hand with running a successful practice. When your staff feels supported and valued, it shows in the quality of care they provide to patients and clients.

If you're looking for ways to strengthen client relationships and grow your practice, consider Positive Impressions. We offer a variety of veterinary marketing products, including reminder cards, pharmacy labels, and branded items that help you stay connected with your clients. Most of our products can be custom-printed with your clinic information or photos. 

Visit our website to see what we offer, or check out our Facebook page for more information.