"With every big outbreak, we lose staff": The mental health impacts of depopulation on veterinarians.

Abstract

Background: Depopulation, involving the mass euthanasia of livestock, is an established practice in the agricultural industry to ensure animal welfare, human health, and economic stability by preventing disease spread. There is evidence that veterinarians involved in animal-disease management and depopulation experience significant and long-lasting mental health impacts.

Objective: This study examined the mental health impacts of depopulation on veterinarians and the ways to build their resilience to these stressful events.

Procedure: Using qualitative methods, 11 veterinarians and industry experts from Alberta participated in semi-structured, one-on-one interviews between April 2023 and April 2024.

Results: Analysis revealed 3 main themes and 6 sub-themes: ongoing work-mental health tensions (including professional bond versus emotional labor, disease control versus moral distress, sense of duty versus trauma of the event), emotional detachment, and occupational distress (including emotional exhaustion, decreased job satisfaction and turnover intentions, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms). These themes were used to adapt the emergency-management framework for veterinarians involved in depopulation, to support their mental health and well-being.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: The pervasive behavioral and mental health challenges associated with depopulation highlight the necessity for education, training, support, and policy adjustments to safeguard veterinarians' mental health and well-being.