Veterinary professionals face some of the highest stress levels of any field. Compassion fatigue and burnout are occupational realities, not personal failures. This page exists so that reaching out is one click closer.
Compassion fatigue is the emotional and physical erosion that comes from caring deeply, case after case, loss after loss. In veterinary medicine it is compounded by euthanasia, difficult client conversations, financial pressure on families, and long hours. It builds quietly, and the people it hits hardest are often the ones who care the most.
If any of that sounds familiar, in yourself or a teammate, please reach out. Talk to someone you trust, talk to your practice leadership, talk to a professional. The organizations below exist precisely for our profession, and every one of them will take your call seriously.
Free, confidential support for anyone in distress, 24 hours a day. Call or text 988 from any phone in the United States.
988lifeline.org →Peer support built by and for veterinary professionals, including support forums, grants, and crisis resources for every role in the hospital.
nomv.org →Free, confidential one-on-one and group support for veterinarians and veterinary students, run by colleagues who understand the work.
vinfoundation.org →Self-assessment tools, workplace wellbeing certificates, and resources on burnout, compassion fatigue, and suicide prevention for veterinary teams.
avma.org/wellbeing →Free continuing education, mentorship, and community focused on wellbeing and the realities of life in practice.
mightyvet.org →Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor by text, free and confidential, any hour of the day or night.
crisistextline.org →Work-life balance is not a perk at the clinics we serve; it is a design requirement. When we place a candidate or advise a hospital, sustainability of the team is part of the deliverable. If a placement isn't working for your wellbeing, tell us. We will listen, and we will act.
Talk to us