Workplace stress, mental health, and burnout of veterinarians in Australia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of the states of depression, anxiety,stress and burnout using internationally validated methods and to relate these tothe demographic characteristics of veterinarians in Australia. METHODS: A postal survey of registered veterinarians with at least one year's experience and whose address was available; 1947 returned the questionnaire providing data foranalysis. RESULTS: Overall, veterinarians describe higher levels of depression,anxiety, stress and burnout than the general population. The severity of thesestates was determined by gender, background, type of practice and years aftergraduation. CONCLUSIONS: Modifying the curricula of veterinary schools to includethe teaching of personal cognitive and coping skills to undergraduate veterinary students, the provision of the opportunity to enhance these skills throughouttheir veterinary career and changes in the veterinary workplace could result inimproved mental health, increased job engagement and work satisfaction.