A call to action: Ameliorating moral distress among veterinarians

Abstract

Veterinarians have higher incidences of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than the general population. In a survey, 1/6 veterinarians had contemplated suicide, with psychological distress a key predictor of suicidal ideation. Availability of lethal means, habituation to death, student loan debt, and other causes may contribute. Several studies have considered the individual agency of veterinarians, well-being initiatives, and selection biases in veterinary school admission. However, there is growing consideration of the moral distress, moral injury, and moral residue that afflict and destabilize veterinarians and may promote suicidal ideation and suicide. Moral distress, a historically elusive concept in veterinary medicine, is undergoing rapid delineation and analysis. This article discusses moral distress in human and veterinary healthcare professionals and how it is measured. Identification of emerging moral stressors may result in designation of broad veterinary moral distress categories and measurable moral distress scales, with an aim to predict and ameliorate moral distress. Finally, 2 tools are proposed to identify and address deleterious effects of moral distress in veterinarians.