NPR Choice page

  • 📰 NPR
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 13 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 8%
  • Publisher: 63%

United States Headlines News

Veterinarians are killing themselves in alarming numbers. 'I had 86 people in my vet school class,' says Dr. Carrie Jurney. 'Three of them are gone. Died by their own hand.' That's why she's on the board of an online support group for veterinarians.

By choosing “I agree” below, you agree that NPR’s sites use cookies, similar tracking and storage technologies, and information about the device you use to access our sites to enhance your viewing, listening and user experience,

personalize content, personalize messages from NPR’s sponsors, provide social media features, and analyze NPR’s traffic. This information is shared with social media services, sponsorship, analytics and other third-party service providers.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

😢💔

Let’s not forget that after a long day, week, month, every single Vet has been hit up by friends, family, & neighbors to give Fluffy, or Rex a freebie once over just because. And wouldn’t dream of returning the favor in their chosen field without compensation.

Why?

Martha_Abrajan

My sister went through hell in Vet. school. I’m still convinced that the stress from it all contributed to her cancer (she survived and is 4 years cancer-free)

Curious how many of these were/are addicts. Is that % any higher than other professions? It seems to me suicide is increasing across the entire country and I’m interested in what elements of veterinary work are unique to these specific cases.

thank you for sharing this topic with all of us.

adonsports My daughter is less than a year away from being a DVM, I worry for her and her classmates, it’s a tough profession!

Very interesting

I am so sad to hear this, who knew?

I wonder how many have/had Toxoplasmosis

I have spent a lot of hours at the vet b/c I tend to end up with sickly pets. I still drive my pets an hour to my most trusted vet if I feel something is really wrong. The ones who are honest but empathetic are the ones I trust the most.

So they say. But more than likely those are the ones who had figured out genetic similarities.

Oh man. I had no idea. We love our veterinarian and still use him even though we love way across town.

OMG 😮

rosemarymemphis Cant be easy with what they see on a daily basis, they are trying their best to save these little lives but at the same time that weighs on them too

I could never do it, much as I love animals. This is a wrenching illustration of why.

Ummismaelsf I can only try to imagine the emotional toll experienced by vets, witnessing human cruelty, negligence and ignorance. They love animals and must watch them continually suffer. My vet attempted suicide. Fortunately, she was found and saved. My heart goes out to them all.

Thank you for sharing this article, including the update at the end. I lost my cat last week and my vet was incredibly kind and supportive throughout the process. I’m going to send him flowers right now.

Never would suspect that Veterinarians would be such a high risk group. What in the world could be behind it? Is this an isolated observation? A statistical outlier?

I had no idea but can see this - closeness to death, constant complaints about pet care costs, all the animal abuse they must see, etc. 😢😢

I listened to this to this yesterday morning. So gut wrenching. I worry about the volunteers at local shelters too.They walk and love on those abandoned little souls with zero control over what happens to the animals or where they end up.They just do what they can while they can.

Lesson learned: be Nice to your Vet!

Sadly this is true of several professions.

There should be an alternative button instead of 'Liked.'

Showing gratitude and appreciation for any service industry person should be the norm. Our 100 lb dog is a jackass when he has to go to the vet. He is a fighter. We have a system so no one gets bit and I appreciate them working with us. I am sure to thank them when he has to go.

You go into a profession because of your intense love for pets and all animals. Then you’re tasked with euthanizing them or otherwise watching them suffer. Why does this report surprise anyone?

Veterinarians are killing themselves, police are killing themselves, doctors, nurses, military vets, farmers, taxi drivers. Suicide is an epidemic.

My only regret in life is not going to veterinary school. However, I'm not sure I'd still be here if I had. Animal rescue is bad enough without the added stress of what these vets deal with. Appreciate them. They do a hard, thankless job.

Most of the veterinarians around here routinely declaw cats and advertise it as a regular 'service'. They should all off themselves. Of all people, they KNOW the harm they are doing to these poor animals. They are supposed to heal them, not butcher them.

My husband is an amazing and caring veterinarian and I worry about him. There are cases where pets do not make it, like the Ruben case discribed, sometimes people get angry, even violent. Cost to run a vet hospital is high and the pay low. I work there and see it first hand.

why is this happening?

Who blames a Vet for the poor outcome of their pet. Pretty sorry human for sure!

Why? Bc pets receive better medical care than working class and poor humans.🐵🐷🐕🐂🐅🦓🍺🤔

Alarming

What an incredibly sad (but necessary and enlightening) article. I am going to write my Vet a thank you letter.

Thanks for sharing. I had no idea veterinarian suicide was a problem.

Please read the article. It is very informative. There is no side of medicine which can tear at you daily. Veterinarians are humans & their job is too intense no matter what some believe.

T. Gondi?

Very informative. My dog is in hospital right now. I will make a point of expressing my gratitude for the great care she is receiving. Working with animals seems a dream job, but this adds a new perspective.

Wt actual f?

Maybe they’re finally realizing what’s happening globally with animals. Then realizing no matter what they do .. it is always going to be an on going effect. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Damn, NPR. I wasn’t prepared to cry before 7am

Why are veterinarians killing them selves? Are they having depression over the prices they charge!

lavaGurl728

Having suitable drugs to hand is too convenient. I mean, putting animals to sleep for a living is some pretty heavy shit to deal with.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 96. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

NPR Choice pageDidn’t the president yesterday say the numbers were good? I mean, maybe - I don’t know who to believe...
Source: NPR - 🏆 96. / 63 Read more »

NPR Choice pageThis is why many have problems with government. As of ACA, EVERY procedure is required by federal law to be in a federal database. The obvious fact the feds can't access their own information is more than troubling. Altering your physical appearance is not a cure. It is a shame the media promotes this type of mutilation as treatment with no studies or evidence. Excellent article.💙Casa Ruby💙
Source: NPR - 🏆 96. / 63 Read more »

NPR Choice pageWhat The Fuck?! GOPChildAbuse CloseTheCamps Lock up the parents who have kept their children from immunization!
Source: NPR - 🏆 96. / 63 Read more »

NPR Choice pageIt's okay. Border security is obviously a bigger issue. The highest ROI meme in history. . . This is good news.
Source: NPR - 🏆 96. / 63 Read more »

NPR Choice pageHow much of your private information has these companies sold to China, India, and other foreign entities? Now do Amazon. The advertising divisions of Google and Facebook absolutely are.
Source: NPR - 🏆 96. / 63 Read more »

NPR Choice pageWhere was thier south sea relief response? Too bad they didn't swoop in to help Puerto Rico last year. They'd have saved a lot of lives. We were in the Bahamas in April. Lots of construction being done by Chinese firms so standa to reason they would step up and help. Wonder who is creating on the US infighting while they claim stakeholds in the world🤔
Source: NPR - 🏆 96. / 63 Read more »