Mental Health Issues in Veterinary Medicine on the Rise

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 8 March 2022

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Veterinarians are nearly three times more likely than the general public to die by suicide, and one in six has contemplated taking their life, according to recent studies. The industry has never been under more stress: during the pandemic, one in five households adopted a new pet, and the demand for veterinary assistance has risen exponentially. But many veterinarians are leaving the profession because of intense workloads, crushing student debt, hostile pet owners, and the trauma of euthanizing animals they’ve cared for from cradle to grave. We’ll talk about the mental health challenges veterinarians and vet techs are facing, and what can be done. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 and in Spanish at 1-888-628-9454. They offer Tele-Interpreter services in over 150 additional languages. Guests: Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, president, San Francisco SPCA; veterinarian Dr. Susan Cohen, social worker; VIN Foundation Vets4Vets program Dr. Cherese Sullivan, president, Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association; Dr. Sullivan is a practicing veterinarian. Dr. Melanie Goble, founding board member, Not One More Vet; Dr. Goble is a practicing veterinarian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:43.1	From KQED.
0:59.4	From KQED in San Francisco. I'm Nina Kim. Coming up on forum, the pandemic triggered a pet boom in the U.S.
1:04.0	And with it, the demand for veterinary care.
1:07.4	But the profession, even before COVID, was dealing with overwhelming caseloads, long hours,
1:12.6	and a level of emotional strain that many believe contribute to a high rate of suicide among veterinarians.
1:19.6	This hour, we look at why providing medical care to dogs, cats, and other animals that bring well-being to their human companions can take such a toll
1:29.0	on veterinarians and vet technicians. Join us.
1:32.3	This is Forum. I'm Nina Kim.
1:46.6	If you adopted a pet during the pandemic, you're not alone.
1:50.4	Surveys find pet ownership in the U.S. rose significantly, as lockdowns made it possible for the first time, or sparked deep needs for animal companionship.
2:00.7	But the pet boom has also meant more kittens and puppies needing checkups, shots,
2:05.6	spay and neutering, among other services, adding stress to a profession already grappling
2:11.6	with sometimes crushing levels of stress.
	...

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