I’m a veterinarian — the profession is facing a mental health crisis

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by alexandra klausner

Being a veterinarian means rough work.

To mark World Veterinarians Day on April 27, one veterinarian is speaking out about the mental health crisis facing his profession.

““Female veterinarians are 3.5 times more likely to end their own lives by suicide than the general population,” Dr. Julie Buzbee, a veterinarian in Beaufort, South Carolina, told the Post.

“Veterinarians are twice as likely to die by suicide than veterinarians.” [any other] There is a higher proportion of medical professionals and female veterinarians than male veterinarians,” explained the veterinarian who has been working for 27 years.

Approximately 70% of this industry is made up of women. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Buzbee wants to raise awareness among the public, especially pet owners, about the challenges faced by veterinarians.

high pressure job

Veterinarians are rarely present feet.

“Almost every profession is made up of highly-achieving, Type A-based personalities who bring 110% of themselves, their heart and soul to their work. ” toe grip for dogsI explained.

She said veterinarians tend to feel like they’re overworked and don’t create healthy work-life boundaries. Because of this, people “feel like they’ve failed at work because they’re always there, and then there’s pressure from home, and they feel like they’ve failed at home, too, and they especially feel mom guilt,” says Buzbee, who is a mother herself. he said.

student loan

Veterinarians first go to university and then to veterinary school, which can put a strain on their finances.

““I’ve seen reports that the average veterinary graduate has about $150,000 in school loan debt,” Buzbee said. Some veterinarians “borrow more than $400,000 in student loans to get into the profession.” According to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

recent research From US News World Report The average salary for veterinarians is $103,260, but we found that some people make as little as $82,000 a year.

Buzbee said some veterinarians feel like they’ve taken loans from predatory lenders and don’t understand “how this is going to impact the rest of their lives.” .

““I think financial counseling should be mandatory for all veterinary schools,” she said.

Debt has a direct impact on mental health. In the United States, 45% of indebted adults say they are stressed out because of their debt “all the time” or “often.” According to a survey by Forbes Advisor.

social stress

Some veterinarians prefer animals to humans. She said working with pets is a “joy of the job,” but working with the pets’ human owners is also a big part of the job.

“It’s a career that involves people as much as animals, but it’s also a career that appeals to introverts,” Buzbee says.

“We ultimately have to do a lot of customer communication, a lot of guidance, consider financial issues, etc., and we also have to consider the expected outcomes,” she added.

Their work often includes grief counseling, and conversations about pet death can be tough for owners and vets alike, and especially for introverts. .

mourning pet

She said veterinarians grieve the death of a pet along with owners, but must be “professional”.

She explained that during the euthanasia appointment, “I can’t break down and sob with my family, and I can’t keep blurry vision because they have to put a vein in.”

She explained that while many people consider euthanasia to be the hardest part of her job, it is an honor to be able to give the animals a peaceful farewell with their families. However, it doesn’t make the losses any easier.

“I’m crying right now just talking about it. Because for many of us who have been in this industry long enough, we see those pets as puppies and kittens, and then they’re there for euthanasia visits…they become family to us too. “,” she said.

Tough customers – made worse by social media

Veterinary care can be expensive, but it’s not the vet’s fault, and some clients don’t know that.

“Some of our customers are combative about veterinary bills,” she says.

Some clients have accused veterinarians of medical malpractice, but in reality this is “very rare.”

She said grieving pet owners were simply “ranting”, which was extremely tough on veterinarians.

Some people post about veterinarians on social media. She said veterinarians could not discuss the patient’s side of the story due to patient confidentiality. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a cyberbullying unit, she said, “because it’s a real thing and it’s tough on mental health.”

She knows of veterinarians who have had their “lives threatened” and others who have quit veterinary medicine because of social media.

seeking support

She mentioned organizations such as; There is no other vet. It was created to prevent veterinarian suicide.

Pet owners can also make a big difference, she said.

““I want people to realize that this is a serious problem in veterinary medicine,” she said.

“If you see a veterinarian being attacked…stand up for them.”

If you live in New York City and are struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. I can. If you live outside the five boroughs, please dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit the following link: SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.