For years, the story of Veterinary medicine has been defined by a difficult reality: a profession built on compassion has been quietly strained by the weight of it. Burnout, moral distress, and mental health challenges have too often overshadowed the purpose and connection that draw people to this work.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, there is a shift worth noting—one grounded not just in hope, but in data.
A recent study highlighted in the New York Post points to measurable progress. Researchers found that 4,732 fewer deaths by suicide occurred among Americans aged 15 to 34 than projected following the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline—an eleven percent reduction. Since 2022, the hotline has received more than 16.5 million contacts across calls, texts, and chats. At the same time, Crisis Text Line reported more than 1.5 million texts in a single year, the highest volume in its history.
These numbers tell a clear story: more people are reaching out, and access to support is making a difference.
For Veterinary medicine, this matters deeply. The profession continues to face disproportionate levels of psychological strain. Sixty-one percent of veterinarians and seventy-two percent of Veterinary technicians report high levels of exhaustion, compared to thirty-two percent of the general population. Burnout affects up to seventy percent of Veterinary technicians, and many professionals carry ongoing moral distress tied to the realities of care.
Against this backdrop, improved access to mental health resources is not just important—it is essential. Yet while awareness of these challenges has grown, much of the conversation has remained focused on what is broken. What has been missing is a consistent effort to highlight what helps people stay.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Project Sticker is launching Tell Us Something Good, a storytelling initiative designed to do exactly that. The campaign invites Veterinary professionals to reflect on and share moments of purpose, pride, joy, and connection—the experiences that sustain them in the midst of demanding work. As the initiative emphasizes, gratitude does not ignore the hard; it helps people move through it.
Tell Us Something Good is grounded in research. A meta-analysis of multiple clinical trials found that gratitude practices are associated with lower anxiety and depression, along with increased life satisfaction and overall well-being.
- 76 percent lower anxiety scores
- 89 percent lower depression scores
- 86 percent increase in life satisfaction
- 8 percent improvement in overall mental health
Additional studies show that reflecting on positive experiences helps sustain positive emotions and strengthen resilience over time. In Veterinary settings, incorporating daily well-being practices has been linked to improved compassion satisfaction—the sense of fulfillment that comes from helping others.
Emerging evidence also suggests that gratitude may influence how the brain and body respond to stress, helping regulate threat responses and support emotional balance. In a profession where stress is constant, even small shifts in how experiences are processed can have meaningful impact.
The encouraging data around 988, however, comes with an important caveat. Researchers warn that continued progress depends on sustained investment in crisis services, noting that current funding levels may not meet demand in many states. Progress is real, but it requires continued commitment.
For the Veterinary profession, this moment presents both opportunity and responsibility. Expanding access to care, normalizing help-seeking, and building supportive workplace cultures are all critical steps. Equally important is making space for the moments that remind professionals why their work matters.
That is the heart of Tell Us Something Good. By inviting individuals across the field to share their stories, Project Sticker aims to build a collective narrative of resilience and connection—one that reflects not only the challenges of Veterinary medicine, but also its meaning.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, the call is simple and intentional:
Find the good in your lives. Share it. Hold onto it.
Because in a profession dedicated to caring for others, recognizing what sustains us may be one of the most powerful ways to care for ourselves.
For more information visit www.stickwithus.vet/tellussomethinggood.
SOURCES:
Diniz G, Korkes L, Tristão LS, et al. The effects of gratitude interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Einstein (São Paulo). 2023;21:eRW0371.
Hazlett LI, Moieni M, Irwin MR, et al. Exploring neural mechanisms of the health benefits of gratitude in women: A randomized controlled trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2021;95:444–453.
Klibert J, Rochani H, Samawi H, et al. The impact of an integrated gratitude intervention on positive affect and coping resources. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology. 2019;3:23–41.
Alwood AJ, Ferrentino DA, Olson SA, Rodriguez VI. The positive impact of daily well-being practices on Veterinary professionals’ quality of life. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2024.
The Neurobiology of Appreciation: A Clinical Review of Gratitude Interventions in Veterinary Medicine. 2024.