Veterinary health care workers, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and veterinary client care service representatives. Many of you may not know that the rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide are alarmingly higher for veterinary healthcare workers than they are for other Americans. According to the CDC, “ female veterinarians were 3.5 times as likely, and male veterinarians were 2.1 times as likely, to die from suicide compared to the general population. Seventy-five percent of the veterinarians who died by suicide worked in a small animal practice.”

According to an AVMA study, 1 in 6 veterinarians have considered suicide since graduation, and 6.8% of male veterinarians and 10.9% of female veterinarians have severe psychological distress, compared with 3.5% of adult men and 4.4% of adult women who do not work in the veterinary community. The study also showed that 24.5% of male and 36.7% of female veterinarians had experienced depressive episodes since graduation, approximately 1.5 times the prevalence in US adults.

Mental health issues don’t just affect veterinarians. Burnout is cited in the NAVTA 2016 Demographics Survey as one of the top 6 most significant problems that credentialed veterinary technicians face.

Providing a work environment that addresses the well-being of our team members is of the utmost importance to us at HVOS. We are committed to improving the mental health of the veterinary healthcare team by exposing the problem, offering support to those in our field, and providing much-needed resources. We, as veterinary health care workers, entered into this field due to a love of animals, with the goal of providing quality, compassionate care. By providing a safe, supportive work environment at HVOS, we allow our team to continue to experience great joy in caring for the lives of your beloved pets.

If you find these statistics concerning, you can help. If you think your veterinarian is doing a good job, please tell him/her personally or in a card. If you’re unhappy with his/her services, please talk to him/her directly. Having an open and honest conversation with the hospital medical/leadership team resolves the vast majority of issues in a timelier manner than going through online channels. Our goal is for all parties to feel as if they have been heard.

If you find these statistics concerning, supporting the Molly Moo Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Dr. Vanessa Rizzo, can also make a big difference. Your donations and involvement help us provide resources and support to veterinary healthcare workers. This makes sure they have the assistance they need to maintain their mental health and continue their invaluable work with animals. Together, we can create a healthier and more compassionate environment for those dedicated to caring for our beloved pets! For more info, please visit the Molly Moo Foundation website here.