Ensuring a Healthy World by Supporting the Well-being of Those Who Care for Animals

The past few years have brought on many changes in both our work and domestic lives. For veterinary professionals, it has also presented unique challenges and opportunities. For one, during the pandemic, we came to understand just how important pet health can be to human mental health and well-being. A recent survey of pet owners showed a positive link between pets and their owners' mental health and/or physical health, and nearly 1 in 5 households nationwide adopted a pet over the last three years. But this COVID-19-inspired spike in the adoption of ‘pandemic puppies’ in context to a global food security crisis that is putting pressure on livestock farmers around the world means one thing–a higher demand for veterinary professionals caring for both our companion and farm animals.

Unfortunately, just when we need veterinarians more than ever, we are seeing the heavy toll that the pandemic has taken on these hard working professionals who reported increased psychological distress and a lack of support for managing the mental health challenges they face on the job. Only a third of veterinarians reported having a healthy method for dealing with their stress. Burnout was found to be especially high in rural areas where veterinarians have long been working in chronically understaffed animal care facilities with enormous caseloads. To make matters worse, inflation and the economic downturn have added additional financial stress on veterinarians who already face disproportionately high student debt due to the conflict between rising tuition costs and stagnant, disproportionately low salaries.

As the last few years have shed light on the depth and breadth of the mental health crisis we all face, it can no longer be the ignored elephant in the room. For healthcare professionals working in high-stress environments, including veterinarians and veterinary technicians, the situation is critical.

Veterinarians are key to healthy animals 

Veterinarians play a vital role in society, serving as stewards of animal health, which is essential to public health and people’s well-being, and helping to secure a healthy and sustainable world–now more than ever. To help improve the well-being of the people who care for animals, we must not only acknowledge the stress the veterinary industry is under but also work to expand support for veterinary professionals. As part of its commitment to help address the challenges facing the veterinary profession, as well as to advance opportunities for farmers and veterinarians around the world, the Zoetis Foundation has committed $35 million over five years and announced its first round of 2022 grants with an initial $4.9 million supporting 20 initiatives based in 19 countries. The Foundation’s work focuses on three grantmaking priorities impacting veterinarians and farmers: Education, Well-Being, and Livelihoods.

Both Zoetis and the Zoetis Foundation work on meaningful ways to help alleviate mental health challenges for veterinary professionals. In partnership with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), Zoetis has helped design the Beyond Medicine workshop focused on providing veterinary professionals with hands-on skills for the nonmedical part of the job, such as client communications, overcoming professional challenges, and caring for their own well-being. Just as the pandemic has shifted the nature of work and ushered in a new hybrid reality, so too, must our resources and solutions shift to meet veterinarians where they are. During the pandemic AAHA piloted a virtual format of the Beyond Medicine workshop about Veterinary Well-being and Communications–so as to ensure they could continue to provide support during a time of increased mental stress. The Zoetis Equine team sponsored Horses for Mental Health’s annual peer-to-peer awareness and fundraising campaign, Seen Through Horses, which aims to increase awareness, public engagement, and raise funds to improve access to programs incorporating horses for mental health and personal growth. To learn more and participate in this year’s campaign visit horsesformentalhealth.org.

The Zoetis Foundation also supports the work of Shanti Project, which is providing evidence-based health support services to veterinarians by expert, doctorate-level clinicians. As part of its Veterinary Mental Health Initiative, the Shanti Project holds several weekly, professionally facilitated peer support groups and individual one-to-one sessions to help address mental health concerns specifically tailored for those in the veterinary field. In addition, the Foundation’s support of American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), is helping them to  develop an online well-being education series from experts within the profession to provide psycho-education for veterinary professionals that can enhance occupational satisfaction.

In memory of Zoetis UK colleague, Dr. David Bartram, the Foundation is honored to provide the University of Glasgow with scholarship funds to support a Ph.D. fellowship for research to improve understanding of suicide risk in veterinarians and help inform suicide prevention. Dr. Bartram was a veterinary surgeon, ardent mental health advocate, and internationally renowned researcher on mental health issues. Learn more about the Foundation’s grantees and the impactful work being done to improve veterinary well-being here.