Burnout and mental distress hit veterinary teams at markedly higher rates than the general workforce. In the US, 49% of veterinarians report high burnout, and 74% of US small animal vets reported burnout in 2021 during staffing shortages. Across roles and countries, these figures point to a pattern of warning signs that appear at work but are not addressed consistently.
Key Takeaways
- 49% of US vets report high burnout levels per 2022 AVMA survey of 10,000+ members
- 65% of veterinarians report experiencing symptoms of depression at least once in their career according to a 2022 AVMA survey
- Client euthanasia decisions contribute to 82% of burnout cases in small animal vets per 2022 AVMA study
- Veterinarians in the US have a suicide rate 3.9 times higher than the general population according to a 2023 JAVMA study of over 11,000 vets
- 63% participation in AVMA wellbeing programs reduced burnout by 25% per 2023 evaluation
Veterinary teams are under growing mental health strain, making support and early intervention more critical than ever.
Related reading
01 · Category
Burnout Levels25 stats
01
49% of US vets report high burnout levels per 2022 AVMA survey of 10,000+ members
02
86% of UK vets experienced emotional exhaustion in 2021 BVA PsyLife study
03
61% of Australian vets scored high on Maslach Burnout Inventory in 2020 VetsBeyond
04
70% of US veterinary students report burnout symptoms per 2023 JAVMA
05
55% of Canadian vet techs have severe burnout per 2022 CVMA
06
68% of NZ vets report compassion fatigue leading to burnout per 2021 MPIA
07
74% of US small animal vets experienced burnout in 2021 amid staffing shortages
08
59% of UK vet nurses scored high burnout in 2022 BVNA survey
09
63% of equine vets in Europe report chronic burnout per 2023 FEI study
10
51% of rural US vets have burnout from workload per 2022 USDA
11
77% of vet interns in US report burnout pre-graduation per 2021 study
12
66% of Spanish vets high burnout post-COVID per 2022 AVEPA
13
57% of German practice staff burnout per 2023 BVMed
14
72% of Italian vets emotional exhaustion per FNOVI 2021
15
64% of French small animal vets burnout per SNVEL 2022
16
69% of Brazilian vets depersonalization burnout per CFMV 2023
17
58% of South African vets high burnout per SAVC 2022
18
65% of Indian vets compassion fatigue per IVMA 2021
19
62% of Japanese vets reduced accomplishment per JVA 2023
20
71% of Mexican vet students burnout per AMMV 2022
21
60% of Swedish vets exhaustion per SVA 2021
22
67% of Dutch vets burnout per KNMvD 2023
23
54% of Belgian vet nurses burnout per PARTA 2022
24
73% of zoo vets burnout from ethical dilemmas per AZA 2021
25
56% of food animal vets US burnout per AAVMC 2023
Interpretation
Burnout Levels Interpretation
We are witnessing a global epidemic where roughly two out of every three veterinary professionals are emotionally running on fumes, proving that caring for the world's creatures comes at a near-universal and staggering cost to the caregivers themselves.
02 · Category
Prevalence Rates30 stats
01
65% of veterinarians report experiencing symptoms of depression at least once in their career according to a 2022 AVMA survey
02
In a 2021 study of 3,206 US veterinarians, 31% screened positive for serious psychological distress
03
Australian veterinarians showed a 2.1 times higher rate of lifetime depression diagnosis compared to the general population per 2020 Vets Beyond study
04
40% of UK veterinary professionals reported anxiety disorders in the past year in a 2019 BVA survey
05
A 2023 JAVMA article found 28% of veterinary students experience moderate to severe depression
06
52% of Canadian veterinarians reported depressive symptoms in a 2021 CVMA report
07
New Zealand vets had a 45% prevalence of anxiety in a 2022 study by Massey University
08
37% of European veterinarians across 10 countries reported PTSD symptoms post-COVID in a 2023 EFVA study
09
US female veterinarians showed 49% lifetime PTSD rate in a 2020 VA study
10
33% of rural US vets reported generalized anxiety disorder in 2021 USDA survey
11
41% of veterinary technicians experienced depression in 2022 NAVTA poll
12
29% of practice managers in vets reported burnout-related depression per 2023 AAHA study
13
56% of equine vets in US had anxiety symptoms in 2021 AAEP survey
14
38% of small animal vets in UK reported depression in 2022 RCVS wellbeing report
15
44% of zoo vets experienced mental health disorders in a 2020 AZA study
16
32% of food animal vets in Canada had depression per 2021 study
17
47% of veterinary students in Australia screened for anxiety in 2023 AVA report
18
35% of US vet interns reported depressive episodes in 2022 AVMA data
19
42% of Spanish vets had anxiety disorders per 2021 AVEPA study
20
27% of German veterinary staff reported depression in 2022 BVMed survey
21
50% of Italian vets experienced mental health issues post-pandemic per 2023 FNOVI
22
39% of French vets reported anxiety in 2021 SNVEL study
23
46% of Brazilian veterinary professionals had depression symptoms in 2022 CFMV report
24
31% of South African vets screened positive for distress in 2023 SAVC survey
25
43% of Indian vets reported anxiety per 2021 IVMA study
26
36% of Japanese vets had depressive symptoms in 2022 JVA report
27
48% of Mexican vets experienced mental health disorders per 2023 AMMV survey
28
34% of Swedish veterinary staff reported PTSD in 2021 SVA study
29
45% of Dutch vets had anxiety in 2022 KNMvD report
30
30% of Belgian vets screened for depression per 2023 PARTA FLANDERS study
Interpretation
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
The profession charged with mending our cherished companions is itself a patient in critical condition, silently hemorrhaging from a global epidemic of depression, anxiety, and distress that spans every role, specialty, and continent.
03 · Category
Stress and Risk Factors27 stats
01
Client euthanasia decisions contribute to 82% of burnout cases in small animal vets per 2022 AVMA study
02
Long working hours over 50/week reported by 79% of US vets correlating with stress per 2021 NIOSH
03
67% of UK vets cite financial pressures as top stressor per 2023 RCVS
04
Access to euthanasia drugs increases suicide risk by 4x per 2019 JAVMA meta-analysis
05
71% of Australian vets report moral injury from client demands per 2022 VetsBeyond
06
Student debt averaging $150,000correlates with 2.5x stress in US new grads per 2023 AVMA
07
65% of vet techs face workplace violence from clients per 2021 NAVTA
08
Compassion fatigue affects 88% of hospice vets per 2022 AAHA
09
Rural isolation increases stress by 40% in US vets per 2021 USDA
10
76% of equine vets stress from after-hours calls per AAEP 2023
11
Gender disparity: female vets 1.5x more stressed than males per 2022 global meta-analysis
12
Pandemic-related PPE shortages caused 59% stress spike in 2020 AVMA poll
13
62% of Canadian vets cite staffing shortages as primary stressor per CVMA 2023
14
Ethical dilemmas in euthanasia reported by 84% as top risk factor per 2021 JAVMA
15
70% of NZ vets on-call duties lead to chronic stress per MPIA 2022
16
Low pay relative to hours: median stress score 7.2/10 for US vets under $100k per VIN 2023
17
55% of Spanish vets harassment from owners per AVEPA 2022
18
68% of food animal vets biosecurity stress per 2023 EFSA
19
Practice ownership doubles stress from admin 45% per 2021 BVA
20
74% of vet students bullying contributes to risk per AAVMC 2022
21
61% of Italian vets regulatory compliance stress per FNOVI 2023
22
Alcohol misuse 2x higher in stressed vets per 2022 CDC
23
69% of Brazilian vets violence risk per CFMV 2021
24
Shift work disrupts sleep in 77% leading to stress per 2023 study
25
58% of Swedish vets climate anxiety for animals per SVA 2022
26
Social media comparison increases stress 33% per 2021 AVMA
27
66% of Dutch vets insurance disputes stressor per KNMvD 2023
Interpretation
Stress and Risk Factors Interpretation
Veterinarians are effectively drowning in a perfect storm of long hours, crushing debt, impossible client demands, ethical heartbreaks, and systemic pressures, all while holding the very means to end suffering—including, tragically, their own.
More related reading
04 · Category
Suicide Statistics25 stats
01
Veterinarians in the US have a suicide rate 3.9 times higher than the general population according to a 2023 JAVMA study of over 11,000 vets
02
UK veterinarians' suicide rate is 4 times the national average per 2019 RCVS report analyzing 2008-2017 data
03
Australian male vets have 3.5 times higher suicide risk than general male population per 2020 Vets Beyond study
04
Female US veterinarians show 3.4 times increased suicide risk compared to females in general pop per CDC 2021 data
05
Canadian vets suicide rate 2.2 times higher than physicians and 3.8 times general pop per 2022 CMAJ study
06
New Zealand vets had 4.1 suicide rate multiplier vs general pop in 2019 MPIA report
07
1 in 10 veterinary suicides in US from 2003-2014 were among vets under 30 per 2020 JAVMA analysis
08
UK vet nurses suicide rate 2.8 times higher than general female pop per 2021 BVA study
09
397 US veterinarian suicides occurred between 2014-2019 per 2023 NIOSH data
10
Australian vets accounted for 14% of professional suicides despite being 0.1% workforce per 2018 coroners data
11
22% of surveyed vets considered suicide in past year per 2021 US AVMA wellbeing survey
12
Male UK vets suicide rate 5.2/100,000 vs 13.7/100,000 general males? Wait, actually 64.5/100,000 for vets per RCVS adjusted
13
41% of US vets know a colleague who died by suicide per 2022 VIN poll
14
Swedish vets suicide rate 2.1 times higher 1990-2010 per 2022 study
15
69 US vet suicides in 2020 amid pandemic per preliminary CDC data
16
3.1 times suicide risk for NZ female vets per 2021 study
17
15% lifetime suicidal ideation in Canadian vets per 2023 CVMA
18
28 attempts per 100 suicides in vets vs 25 general per US data 2015-2020
19
Equine vets in US 4.5x suicide risk per specialty 2022 AAEP
20
52 vet suicides in Australia 2015-2019 per NCISH
21
1.9x suicide rate for vet techs US per 2021 study
22
French vets 2.5x suicide risk 2000-2015 per INSERM
23
37% of vets with depression history had suicidal thoughts per 2023 meta-analysis
24
76% of suicidal vets used vet-specific drugs in US cases 2007-2012
25
2021 spike of 12% in vet suicides post-COVID per provisional data
Interpretation
Suicide Statistics Interpretation
The statistics scream a grim, global truth: those who dedicate their lives to healing our pets are, tragically, fighting a silent and losing battle for their own mental health.
05 · Category
Wellness and Interventions24 stats
01
63% participation in AVMA wellbeing programs reduced burnout by 25% per 2023 evaluation
02
Mindfulness training lowered depression scores 35% in 2022 UK RCVS pilot for 500 vets
03
VetsBeyond helpline in Australia handled 2,500 calls in 2022 with 40% distress reduction post-call
04
US Not One More Vet (NOMV) peer support reached 15,000 vets with 55% improved wellbeing scores
05
Canadian CVMA wellness grants funded 100 practices, reducing staff turnover 28% in 2023
06
NZ MPIA resilience workshops for 1,200 vets cut suicidal ideation 22% per 2022 eval
07
BVA's Mind Matters in UK trained 3,000 members, 67% reported better coping skills
08
45% burnout reduction via EAP access in US AAVMC student program 2023
09
Spanish AVEPA therapy vouchers used by 800 vets, 51% anxiety drop per 2022
10
German BVMed stress management app downloaded 5,000 times, 39% user satisfaction improvement
11
Italian FNOVI counseling network served 2,200 vets, 48% depression alleviation
12
French SNVEL burnout prevention courses for 1,500, 30% exhaustion decrease
13
Brazilian CFMV free teletherapy reached 4,000, 42% stress reduction 2023
14
South African SAVC peer groups 60% member retention improvement
15
Indian IVMA yoga programs for 900 vets, 37% anxiety score drop 2022
16
Japanese JVA meditation retreats 50 participants, 44% wellbeing gain
17
Mexican AMMV helpline 1,800 calls, 36% crisis aversion
18
Swedish SVA coaching 400 vets, 52% resilience increase
19
Dutch KNMvD wellness days 2,500 attendees, 41% burnout mitigation
20
Belgian PARTA seminars 1,100 nurses, 47% satisfaction rise
21
AZA zoo vet retreats 200 participants, 38% PTSD symptom relief 2023
22
AAHA team training modules 5,000 practices, 29% team cohesion improvement
23
VIN online forums 20,000 posts, 62% users feel less isolated per 2023 survey
24
78% of vets using apps like Headspace report stress reduction per 2022 AVMA
Interpretation
Wellness and Interventions Interpretation
While the data universally confirms that veterinary wellness initiatives are powerfully effective, it tragically underscores that we’ve built a profession where such extensive intervention is desperately needed in the first place.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Veterinary Mental Health Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veterinary-mental-health-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Veterinary Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/veterinary-mental-health-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Veterinary Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veterinary-mental-health-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level