Supporting Veterinarian Mental Health through Workplace Innovation
October 9, 2025
Veterinary professionals are deeply committed to animal health, yet the day-to-day demands of the job can take a significant toll. Between long hours, high emotional stakes and financial strain, the veterinary workplace can become a challenging environment. That’s why it is critical to invest in innovative workplace practices that support mental health and well-being.
This World Mental Health Day, we’re proud to highlight two Zoetis Foundation grantees implementing proactive approaches to workplace wellness and fostering a healthier future for veterinary professionals: the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).
A recent multi-year comparative survey revealed high levels of stress among European veterinary professionals and an increase in medical leave due to reduced mental well-being, especially for early career and female veterinarians. Through its Vetjoy platform, FVE is helping veterinarians and veterinary workplaces flourish—bringing wins for vets, clients, and animals alike.
Vetjoy delivers a suite of evidence-based coaching, mentorship and workplace resources to provide holistic support throughout the veterinary career path. Its coaching program helps veterinary teams across Europe strengthen communication, boost morale and promote team cohesion. These programs normalize seeking help and provide tools to foster healthier workplace dynamics, such as communication and conflict resolution training.
“To improve well-being in the profession, veterinary workplaces must be supportive, foster an environment where every team member feels valued, and promote a healthy work-life balance,” said Nancy De Briyne, Executive Director of FVE. “Placing people at the heart of the workplace creates the conditions for thriving teams and outstanding veterinary care.”
With more than two-thirds of Australia’s veterinary workforce reporting mental health concerns, AVA centers the workplace as a powerful intervention point. AVA responds directly to veterinary mental health challenges through its “Cultivating Safe Teams” initiative, which brings subsidized mental health and psychosocial safety training into veterinary clinics. It provides tools and training to help veterinary teams understand their obligations to protect psychosocial safety, encourage open dialogue and create environments where individuals feel comfortable sharing concerns.
“Creating psychologically safe environments where team members feel safe to disclose challenges without fear of retribution is essential,” said Dr. Diana Barker, AVA Director, AVA Vice President, and current Chair of the AVA's Thrive Advisory Committee. “Workplaces can promote well-being by cultivating a culture of open communication, identifying and treating psychosocial hazards, providing access to mental health resources, and implementing policies that support work-life balance.”
The Cultivating Safe Teams pilot program trained 735 veterinary professionals across 50 workplaces, with 93% rating the training as useful or very useful. Building on this success, AVA will expand on its training by developing a tailored workplace implementation program to help workplace leaders take action for their team’s psychosocial safety.
The Zoetis Foundation is honored to support this work through grant funding and grateful to the veterinary professionals who show up every day for animals, pet owners and their communities. To learn more about the Foundation’s commitment to supporting mental health within the veterinary field, you can view its well-being grantees here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org.