An Examination of Suicide Rates in the Veterinary Profession and the Effect of COVID-19 on Exacerbating the Problem
By: James Knight
Tags: Veterinary, Crisis, Covid 19, Stress, Suicide

Suicide in Perspective

Approximately 1 million people die by suicide each year, and the number of deaths surpasses that of war and homicide combined (4). In 2018 suicide was responsible for 48,000 deaths in the United States, making it the 10th leading cause of death (8). Suicide rates are increasing and are the highest that they have been since World War II (8). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that in 2018, 10.7 million adults in the United States seriously thought about suicide, 3.3 million made a suicide plan, and 1.4 million attempted suicide (8).

Studies have shown a link between suicide and various occupations, including different health care professionals (9). Compared to other medical fields, the veterinary profession has been approximately twice that of dentists, more than twice that of human medical professionals, and up to 4 times the general population rate (4).

A study by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association found that of 735 veterinarian subjects, 19% have seriously thought about suicide, and 9% had previously attempted suicide. Of those who had suicidal thoughts: 55% consulted a psychiatrist, and 49% felt they might have a relapse of suicidal thoughts or actions (4).

According to a study completed by the CDC, which surveyed more than 10,000 veterinarians in the United States, 24.5% of male veterinarians and 36.7% of female veterinarians have experienced depressive episodes since graduating from veterinary school. This number is 1.5 times the average for U.S. adults (5). The study also found that 14.4% of males and 19.1% of females have considered suicide since graduation. This rate is three times the U.S. national average. 1.1% of males and 1.4% of females have attempted suicide since veterinary school (5).

This number is lower than the national average for suicide attempts, which can be explained by the knowledge of prescription drugs, leading to more successful and lethal suicides. More successful suicides leave fewer respondents who have attempted unsuccessfully and are still alive to respond to the survey. The data from these two individual countries shows that the high suicide rate within the veterinary field is not a centralized issue but rather an issue that spreads across the globe within the profession.

Risk Factors and Explanations

There are many risk factors that veterinarians face that could contribute to these disproportionately high suicide rates. However, it is impossible to definitely know why someone decides to take their life and is typically the result of the combination of multiple experiences and personality traits rather than one defining factor.

Though we cannot determine the specific cause for someone to take their own life, a study reported by Stoewen (4) identified several risk factors that may contribute to the high suicide rates within the veterinary profession. The risk factors include personality factors, undergraduate training, professional isolation, work-related stressors, attitudes to death and euthanasia, access to and knowledge of means, and the stigma around mental illness (4).

Due to the nature of the profession, veterinarians tend to be high achievers, which gives them tendencies toward perfectionism and neuroticism. Both are risk factors for mental illness. Veterinarians also tend to prefer to work with animals over people. This preference frequently causes them to be socially isolated. Social isolation puts people at risk for depression, which is a precursor to suicide (4).

Veterinarians’ experiences in undergrad can also contribute to their mental health issues later in life. High academic requirements to be accepted into veterinary school is linked to increased vulnerability to suicide. The pressure to succeed within school and maintain a flawless GPA limits social skills and emotional intelligence, affecting students’ coping skills and resilience (4).

Many veterinarians in private practice are also professionally isolated; the lack of access to colleagues causes more professional mistakes. The self-criticism and emotional trauma from these mistakes can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions (4).

Work-related stressors can also contribute to the diminishing of one’s mental health. Work-related stressors can be but are not limited to: professional mistakes, inadequate support, long work hours, conflicting relationships with peers, lack of resources, limited personal finances, high client expectations, burnout, and client complaints (4).

In her Ted talk, Dr. Melanie Bowden (10) speaks on the lack of resources, stating, “There is nothing more soul-crushing in life than having the skills and ability to help something helpless, and you can’t do it because someone can’t afford treatment.”

Lack of client finances is a general theme across all veterinary professionals. A study published by the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine found that 69% of veterinarians surveyed said they had felt moderate to severe distress about not giving animals what they thought was the right care (11).

Limited personal finances are also a significant stressor for young veterinarians. In 2018, veterinary students in the United States graduated with an average of $150,000 in student debt (2). Data from the Bureau of Labor shows that the median annual wage for veterinarians in 2018 was $95,460. Lack of personal resources causes a considerable amount of stress, which can cause a variety of psychological issues.

Burnout and compassion fatigue are also believed to be contributors to high suicide rates. Veterinarians face higher levels of compassion fatigue because they carry the emotional burden of not only their animal patients but also the humans that accompany them (3). Burnout is long term exhaustion and is typically caused by the long work hours that veterinarians have. Burnout can lead to increased vulnerability to suicidal thoughts or actions (4).

Veterinarians are often charged with ending life, and due to this, have strong beliefs in the quality of life and humane euthanasia to alleviate suffering (4). The act of euthanasia can alter how a person views death and how they value human life. And this view may cause them to rationalize suicide. Since veterinarians also have access to medications and knowledge of how to use them to take their own lives, this is a critical factor in the profession’s high rate of suicide (4).