Vets under massive stress
It’s long been a favoured profession for animal lovers, but Kiwi vets say they’re under ‘moral’ pressure to perform, writes Alex Loo.
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Exposure to the deaths of animals, and the grief of their human owners, is creating a massive emotional toll on veterinarians, a leading industry figure says.
The ‘‘moral stress’’ is contributing to high rates of depression and even suicidal thoughts among vets, according to a new survey.
The just-released study from the American Veterinary Medical Association found 17 per cent of vets have suicidal thoughts after they leave vet school, and 31 per cent had experienced depressive episodes.
And information obtained under the Official Information Act from the Ministry of Justice has revealed that at least eight veterinarians took their own lives in New Zealand between 2007 and 2017.
Massey University’s academic dean of veterinary sciences, associate professor
Jenny Weston, said dealing with situations where an animal had to be euthanised, but the owner wasn’t ready to let their pet go, created ‘‘moral stress’’ for the vet.
‘‘As a vet, you’re very much dealing with people’s emotions,’’ Weston said.
People who chose to become vets were often high-achievers who wanted to help others, which may make them more vulnerable to mental health issues, she said.
One of the biggest challenges for new vets was working without the kind of ‘‘backstop’’ they had when they were studying.
‘‘Quite often our new graduates report that actually having the responsibility for making decisions about a case can be quite stressful . . . most employees recognise you need to hold their hand and support them,’’ Weston said.
Massey University’s Palmerston North campus is home to the only vet school in New Zealand. To get into the degree course, prospective students have to complete academic and personality testing during their first semester of study, a process Weston describes as ‘‘highly competitive’’.
A third-year student, who did not want to be named, said knowing what was in store once she left university – long hours, a large student loan and dealing with outdated attitudes towards vets – was stressful. She said the university acknowledged mental health challenges by dealing with ‘‘compassion fatigue’’ and trying to promote mental wellbeing.
She said female vets also had to contend with sexist attitudes and she had heard sexist comments during compulsory placements, but had not spoken out for fear of jeopardising future employment opportunities.
Auckland-based vet Vicki Lim runs The Riptide Project, through which she shares stories of veterinary professionals from around the world and runs a mentoring programme to help reduce stigma and provide support within the industry.
Lim said it was difficult for vet students to appreciate the stress of the job until they were in the thick of it, and discussions around mental health were common.
‘‘The vast majority of people I have encountered are well aware of the need for improvement of mental health issues in the industry,’’ Lim said.
Massey University psychology lecturer Dr Dianne Gardner said the conversation about suicide in the profession was ‘‘important to have’’, but she was wary of stigmatising the profession. ‘‘Most people will be just fine.’’ She said the stresses of being a vet were similar to those in other professions and said female engineers often had their credibility doubted.
Focussing on the suicide rate was ‘‘telling the wrong story’’ and undermining the positives of being a vet.
A New Zealand Vet Association spokesman said it offers its members access to a counselling service, including sessions with a psychologist and pastoral care from experienced vets. It has also published a booklet for vets about wellbeing.