May 15, 2025
By Paige Adams, DVM
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to speak up, share stories, and shine a light into the places we often keep hidden. For those of us in veterinary medicine, that hidden place can be the very heart of our profession.
The public sees our love for animals, our smiling faces in exam rooms, and the joy of a puppy’s first visit or a successful surgical recovery. What they may not see are the long hours, the emotional toll of euthanasia, the weight of medical debt, and the overwhelming responsibility of caring for lives—both animal and human.
Veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and receptionists carry not just the burden of treating sick or injured pets, but often the grief of the pet owners too. We feel immense guilt when outcomes aren’t perfect and we take on the pressure of making these life-or-death decisions on a daily basis. We are expected to be healers, therapists, mediators, and sometimes magicians. There are often other factors such as financial or logistical limitations that go into the choices owners make for their pets, but at the end of the day when we can’t “fix them all”, the emotional fallout can be devastating.
It’s no secret anymore: the veterinary field is facing a mental health crisis. According to the CDC, veterinarians are at a significantly higher risk for suicide compared to the general population. Burnout, compassion fatigue, and depression are not rare—they are alarmingly common. And yet, many of us suffer in silence, afraid that acknowledging our struggles makes us less capable or less compassionate. The truth is just the opposite.
We need to talk about it—loudly and often. Talking about mental health does not mean we are weak. It means we are human. It means we care deeply, and that care comes at a cost we must learn to manage. I fully believe mental health is health and mental health care should be as routine as physical health care. In our profession, we need a culture that supports seeking help, not hiding pain. I feel incredibly lucky to work for a company that values their staff’s well being and provides mental health care for all employees at no cost to us. This is not a common benefit in our field yet, but hopefully it will continue progressing in this positive direction.
To the general public and our clients: your kindness matters more than you know. A simple thank you, a patient tone, a word of encouragement—it can mean everything on a hard day. Understand that while your pet may be one of many we see, we never forget the lives we touch, and sometimes the heartbreak that follows us well beyond the exam room. Our drive home is often filled with quiet tears after a day that took everything out of us.
To my colleagues: your pain is real. Your worth is not measured in perfect outcomes, praise, or 5-Star Google Reviews. You are enough, just as you are, and you are not alone. Prioritize your well-being. Talk to someone. Take time for yourself. Set the boundary. We must take care of ourselves to continue caring for others. Please know my door is always open. I can be a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a voice to remind you that your feelings are valid, and a friend to walk beside you through the hard days. Whether you need silence, support, or just someone who understands, I’m here.
This month—and every month—we must stand together for mental health in veterinary medicine. May is a time of awareness, but for those of us in this field, the challenges don’t come and go with the calendar. The emotional strain, the long hours, the moments of grief, self-doubt, and burnout—they’re part of our daily lives. That’s why our commitment to mental well-being must be ongoing and intentional. We are human beings doing deeply emotional work, and it’s okay to need help, to feel overwhelmed, and to talk about what’s going on beneath the surface.
Let’s support one another—not just when a crisis arises, but in the quiet, everyday moments. You matter, your work matters, and so does your well-being.
With compassion,
