A study reported that 1 in 10 Veterinarians might experience serious psychological distress and 1 in 6 may have contemplated suicide since graduation AVMA article.
I have been working in Veterinary hospitals since 1997 and my personal observations are that this special group of professionals are some of the most passionate, empathetic, hard-working and underappreciated individuals I have had the pleasure to work with. They work many nights and weekends, split shifts, 12-hour shifts and often see patients or call clients instead of taking a break.
They rarely get to leave work on time and will come in early. They stand on their feet for long periods of time and are at risk for bites and scratches. Name another profession where you celebrate the new addition of a “baby” into the family, cared for them when they were sick and finally, you are the person responsible for ending that life during a euthanasia. Now imagine having to walk out of that appointment, after watching a family grieving deeply as they say goodbye to their pet, and now you walk into a celebratory kitten or puppy exam. That is not a rare occurrence but rather a daily one.
Veterinarians struggle to balance work and home life. The lines are often blurred as they often have difficulty leaving work at work. I know of Veterinarians falling asleep in bed with books around them as they tried to research new treatment options for a clients’ beloved kitty. They often are faced with a decision whether to stay late to see another sick patient because Mrs. Smith, a senior who lost her husband last year and only trusts her 18-year-old kitty with them and miss another of their son’s soccer games. The challenge is that these amazing people want to do both and that creates a constant inner struggle and the feeling of never being enough. They are the most compassionate people who not only care deeply for the pets they care for but also cherish the trust clients have in them and do not want to let any of them down.
Today a Veterinarian may be considering taking their life and today, of this I am sure, many Veterinarians are giving their all to save a life. I hope they reach out for help when they need it because there is help to be found. May today be the day the tide changes direction.
Written by Jen Kendrick, Site Coordinator
