Honoring Mental Health in Veterinary Medicine: A Call for Whole-Person Care

Written by Renea Lewis, Marketing Growth Strategist, blendVET®
Founder & AI-Powered Marketing Strategist, WriterReneaMultimedia.com

Need mental health support right now! Access these 2 resources now:

•  Not One More Vet (NOMV)
  
• Veterinary Hope Foundation

At blendVET®, we believe that creating a truly inclusive veterinary profession requires more than welcoming different faces to the table—it requires caring for the whole person who shows up each day.

That means understanding that the mental health crisis in veterinary medicine isn’t an individual weakness; it’s a systemic issue—one that disproportionately impacts BIPOC professionals, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those with disabilities.

This May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we must move beyond awareness. We must act with intention—to build spaces where all veterinary professionals feel seen, valued, and supported in both their personal and professional wellbeing.

The Reality We Cannot Ignore

The numbers tell a story of urgent need:

• The 2024 Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study reports that 44% of veterinarians and 49% of veterinary technicians experience serious psychological distress—nearly double the rate of the general U.S. adult population¹.
• The 2023 Diversity & Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine Study found that BIPOC veterinary professionals report significantly higher levels of emotional exhaustion and isolation compared to their white colleagues—largely tied to experiences of microaggressions, bias, and systemic barriers in the workplace².
• Research from the Veterinary Mental Health Initiative (VMHI) further revealed that LGBTQIA+ veterinarians are three times more likely to experience suicidal ideation than their heterosexual and cisgender peers³.
• And we know from the CDC’s 2019 report analyzing veterinary suicide data from 2003–2014 that veterinarians were already experiencing suicide rates significantly higher than the general U.S. population⁴.

These are not abstract numbers. These are real people, real colleagues, real lives.

We owe it to every professional entering this field—and those still fighting to stay in it—to build a new foundation of care, compassion, and systemic change.

2 Valuable Resources Especially for Veterinary Professionals

blendVET® proudly supports and recommends two organizations that are leading the way in supporting veterinary professionals with culturally competent, trauma-informed mental health resources:

1. Not One More Vet (NOMV)
   NOMV offers urgent crisis support, peer-led communities, and preventative mental wellness education tailored specifically to the unique pressures of veterinary life.
   🌐 Learn more: Not One More Vet (NOMV)
2. Veterinary Hope Foundation
   With licensed mental health professionals facilitating small-group discussions, the Veterinary Hope Foundation provides a safe and affirming space for connection, healing, and peer support.
   🌐 Explore groups: Veterinary Hope Foundation

Accessible mental health support is not optional—it is essential to the future of veterinary medicine.

How We Can Show Up for Each Other

Healing happens through collective action. Here’s how you can make an immediate difference:

1. Be present without needing to "fix": offer a safe, judgment-free ear. Your willingness to listen might be the bridge someone needs.
2. Normalize mental health conversations: share resources. Share your story. Normalize reaching out for help as an act of strength.
3. Create micro-moments of inclusion: affirm someone’s identity. Acknowledge their contributions. Celebrate their humanity—not just their output.
4. Advocate for systemic wellness: push for mental health resources, DEIB initiatives, mentorship pipelines, and fairer workplace policies wherever you are.
5. Act when you notice: behavior changes often signal deeper pain. Respond with compassion—and point them toward professional help.

Our Commitment

We know that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging cannot exist without mental health equity. They are interconnected—and essential.

We are committed to providing educational resources and training where all veterinary professionals, across every race, background, gender identity, and ability, can belong and thrive.

You are not alone.
Your wellbeing matters.
Your future matters.

💚 blendVET® stands with you—today, tomorrow, and always.

#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #blendVET #BelongInVetMed #NotOneMoreVet #VeterinaryHopeFoundation #WholeHumanCare #MentalHealthMatters #SystemicChangeStartsHere 

📚 References

1. Merck Animal Health. (2024). Veterinary Wellbeing Study III.
   https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/2024-merck-wellbeing-study
2. National Association of Black Veterinarians & PrideVMC. (2023). Diversity and Wellbeing in Veterinary Medicine: Study Report 2023.
   https://vetwellbeingstudy.com/2023-report
3. Veterinary Mental Health Initiative. (2023). LGBTQIA+ Mental Health in Veterinary Medicine: Insights and Interventions.
   https://www.vetmentalhealth.org/research
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). Suicide Among Veterinarians in the United States from 1979 through 2015.
   MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(2), 19–23.
   https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6802a1.htm