07/09/2024
September is Su***de Awareness Month
Did you know Veterinarians and their staff officially have the highest su***de rate of any profession?? The rate of su***de in the veterinary profession has been pegged as close to twice that of the dental profession, more than twice that of the medical profession, and 4 times the rate in the general population.
Work-related stressors such as long working hours; after hours on-call duties, high client expectations; unexpected clinical outcomes; emotional exhaustion (compassion fatigue); lack of resources; limited personal finances; concerns about maintaining skills; and the possibility of client complaints and litigation can all contribute to anxiety and depression, which increase vulnerability.
Active participation in the ending of animal life may alter views on death and the sanctity of human life, and in the face of lifeโs challenges, enable self-justification and reduce inhibitions towards su***de, making su***de seem a rational solution.
Why share this? Because we want to create awareness among the general population to always remember, your veterinarian, the nurses, reception, kennel hands and general workers are only human and theyโre trying their best.
These things are heard everyday by veterinary staff. Bullying is NEVER acceptable.
"Vets only care about money!"
"You're letting my pet suffer because I cannot afford treatment"
"Why do I have to pay for a vet consultation, I already know what's wrong!"
"Can you put my healthy dog to sleep because I don't want it anymore"
Veterinary staff are very under appreciated, looked over and actually under paid! Please respect Veterinary staff. Please do not be part of the reason another person who is passionate about animals either leaves, or gives up on their life all together.
A testimony of a vet:
โIn our profession, we wear many hats...we are your dog's surgeon, ophthalmologist, dentist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, oncologist, & oh so more -- all in one day. We have to walk out of one exam room where we help walk a family through one of the most painful & selfless decisions we ever have to make as pet parents to humanely end their suffering into the next exam room with a family who is elated to have a new 8 week old puppy addition...all with a smile on our faces. We are human, but god forbid we let our guards down & dampen anyone else's day with what we've had to see or do the room prior. I always say..."It's not all puppies & kittens folks" - it is tough, demanding, & exhausting living up to these expectations every single day of our lives. We struggle oftentimes with depression, anxiety, & burnout in this field. Time off? What is that!? We work incredibly long hours; oftentimes don't get a single 5 minute "break", & constantly struggle to have a work-life balance. One way or another, whether intentionally or not, we always take our work home with us. It's there running back & forth through our minds at 3AM when we can't sleep - what we could have done better, where we 'dropped the ball' along the way....but, the truth is: We are perfectionists & beat ourselves up about things that no other decision would have changed the end outcome. With that, who needs online reviews & client complaints after all?! We are our very own toughest critics. We pour our entire heart & soul into every dog, cat, bird, rabbit, or iguana that we see as if it were our very own. Compassion fatigue is real...& it's deadly. Did you ever realize that one person could care TOO MUCH? Well, it's a thing - & we suffer from that too.โ
In summary, it takes NOTHING to be kind and patient โค Please treat all humans with love and compassion; weโre trying our absolute best!
Veterinary clinic 
