CDC: Animal doctors far more likely to take own lives

Veterinarians are far more likely to take their own lives than the general population, the government said Thursday in a study that finds animal doctors’ workload, high debt and easy access to pharmaceuticals are driving the alarming trend.

The problem is particularly acute among female veterinarians, who are 3.5 times more likely to take their lives than the general population. Suicide prevalence among male veterinarians is twice as high as it is in the general public, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC said the problem has been around for at least three decades, but the agency is hoping to apply its research into solutions.

“This study shines a light on a complex issue in this profession. Using this knowledge, we can work together to reduce the number of suicides among veterinarians,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield.

The CDC, which looked at the deaths of more than 11,600 veterinarians from 1979 to 2015, said a number of factors are driving the problem.

Veterinarians tend to have stressful workloads, leading to an unhealthy balance with their personal lives. And their incomes often don’t keep up with high amounts of student loan debt.

However, the CDC homed in on a unique factor — veterinarians have access to euthanasia drugs for animals that can be lethal in humans if used in large enough quantities.

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, who lectures on veterinary well-being in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, said the combination of veterinarians’ know-how and access to those drugs means they are more likely to complete a suicide than someone in the general population, who may try less effective methods.

“They’re using means that they know are lethal,” Dr. Holowaychuk said.

“Veterinarians are trained to view euthanasia as an acceptable method to relieve suffering in animals, which can affect the way veterinarians view human life, including a reduced fear about death, especially among those experiencing suicidal ideation,” the study said.

Veterinarians also may struggle with expectations of animal owners and communicating bad news to them. They also confront poor treatment outcomes.

Dr. Holowaychuk said client interactions are a big stressor for veterinarians. For instance, an owner might present a pet that is injured and requires a costly surgery, yet the clients will say they can’t afford it and say they’d prefer to euthanize the animal.

“That puts us in a very morally distressing situation,” Dr. Holowaychuk said.

The CDC’s findings mirror those of past studies at the state level and in other countries, including Australia, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The perspective also adds to the growing concern, generally, around “deaths of despair” from drug overdoses or suicide in the U.S., which have contributed to an unusual decline in life expectancy.

Nearly 45,000 Americans aged 10 or older died by suicide in 2016, making it the 10th leading cause of death, according to the CDC. The high-profile suicides of handbag designer Kate Spade and TV chef/host Anthony Bourdain also spotlighted the issue this year.

Roughly 60 percent of the 110,000 veterinarians in the U.S. are women. A previous government study found female veterinarians reported higher risk factors for suicide than their male counterparts, including depression, suicide ideation and attempts.

Since 2000, the share of female veterinarians in the CDC data set who died from suicide has remained steady at 10 percent, through the overall number of deaths has spiked as more women enter the profession. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which employs protocols to eliminate workplace threats, will explore strategies to reel in the problem among veterinarians.

They might restrict access to euthanasia drugs, for instance, or advise veterinarians to schedule shorter work shifts, the CDC said.